Thursday & Friday Fulham Stuff - 24-25/12/21...

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Talking Points: Peterborough

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While Aleksandar Mitrović will take the headlines, the thing that pleased Marco Silva the most on Wednesday night was the victory. When FFCtv began our post-match debrief with the Gaffer by saying we had to start by talking about Mitro, he quickly sat us back down. "Sorry I won't start with Mitro," he said with a smile. "I will start with the three points as that is the main thing for us." Fair enough, boss!

Mika's pass-terclass

Jean Michaël Seri was in from the start for a Fulham game for the first time in more than two months, and it was like he'd never been away. Operating in his deep-lying playmaker role, Seri created plenty of chances for his teammates, with his chipped balls over the top for Aleksandar Mitrović and Harry Wilson in the second half particularly stunning.

History maker

Having matched Ivan Toney's 31 Championship goals against Hull City, it was only a matter of time before Mitro held the record outright. He earned the right to move onto 32 himself when he won a penalty just before the half hour mark, one he dispatched with unflinching conviction. And it soon became 33 with a smart second half volley. He could have had a hat-trick had it not been for an excellent performance from Peterborough goalkeeper Steven Benda, but a goal every 79 minutes this season is still not too shabby.

https://twitter.com/FulhamFC/status/1496585501591154694

Marek Moraes

As we reached the 70 minute mark in the game, Marek Rodák set up a move with a beautiful flat pass to Bobby De Cordova-Reid up the other end of the pitch. It was fabulous technique, comparable to that of Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson, and it was just a shame that it didn't end up leading to a goal.

Return of a legend

While Posh wait to appoint a new manager, Matthew Etherington took temporary charge in midweek, assisted by the club's under-23 manager; a certain Simon Davies. It's always good to see Digger back at the Cottage after he gave us six-and-a-half years of excellent service, scoring some fairly valuable goals along the way.

https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2022/february/24/talking-points-peterborough/

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How do Marco Silva's Fulham stats compare to those of his predecessors?

Fulham appointed Marco Silva as manager at the beginning of the 2021/22 season, and have since found themselves in an incredibly strong position.

The Cottagers current sit top of the Championship, nine points clear of Bournemouth in 2nd. Before the weekend loss to play-off chasing Huddersfield Town, supporters had seen their team go on a seven game unbeaten run, which included a 7-0 and two 6-2 victories.

Fulham needed a new manager who could send them back up at the first time of asking following their relegation from the Premier League last season. The club is, at present, well on course to achieve that.

So how does the former Everton boss' stats compare to that of his predecessors?
Silva became Fulham's tenth manager in as many years when he was appointed last summer. The 44-year-old took over from club legend Scott Parker, who achieved promotion via the play-offs in his first full season of management.

He currently boasts a win percentage of 60% since arriving at Craven Cottage – only Kevin Keegan has bettered that record during his year stint from 1998-99 in west London (62.3%).

Slaviša Jokanović left Fulham with a 32.91% win percentage, Parker with 35.2%, and Claudio Ranieri with 17.65%.

Silva's winning record is already far superior to those who came before him, although he is yet to manage this Cottagers' side at Premier League level.

In terms of his squad's attacking threat, it seems they will smash the second tier's goals scored record. Fulham have hit the back of the net 81 times this season, with sharpshooter Aleksandar Mitrović having already beaten Ivan Toney's individual record of 31 goals.

Under Parker, the west London side only managed 64 league goals all season as they finished in 4th, further exemplifying the forward talent of Silva's current squad.

Fulham have failed to win the Championship throughout their existence, the closest attempt coming in the 2017/18 season with a third placed finish. It looks as if this campaign is their best chance of lifting the trophy, and it would take an extremely poor run of form to not achieve automatic promotion at least.



https://the72.co.uk/263631/how-do-marco-silvas-fulham-stats-compare-to-those-of-his-predecessors/

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Championship goalscoring record: How many goals does Aleksandar Mitrovic need to break the all-time second-tier record?

Aleksandar Mitrovic's brace against Peterborough on Wednesday broke the Championship record, but what about the previous benchmark before the league's 2004 rebrand?

Aleksandar Mitrovic's goalscoring record for Fulham this season has been nothing short of jaw-dropping. The big Serb had already hit 20 league goals by matchday 17; a run which included 10 goals in six matches by early November.

With Fulham flying high at the top of the Championship for much of the campaign, and Mitrovic in scintillating form, the question of whether he would break Ivan Toney's 31-goal record – set only last season for promoted Brentford – quickly became a question of when.

As it happened, Mitrovic matched Toney's record against Hull on February 12 and then moved clear into the lead against Peterborough on Wednesday evening. A brace took him past Toney and onto 33 for the campaign. It's official: Mitrovic is the greatest single-season goalscorer in Championship history – and with a staggering 14 games still to play.

But given that record only dates back to 2004 when the league's branding changed - it seems a slightly arbitrary record. Before the Championship, between 1992 and 2004 when the league was known as Division One, the record is a far more impressive 42 goals scored by Portsmouth's Guy Whittingham in 1992/93.

But again that line in the sand was only drawn because it was the year the Premier League was formed and so for marketing reasons the second tier went from being known as Division Two to Division One.

in order to be the undisputed top goal scorer in the English second tier, the Serbia international would have to notch a further 27 goals in the remaining 14 league games to surpass Middlesbrough's George Camsell. He scored an astonishing 59 league goals in just 37 league games in the 1926/27 season.

Camsell holds another record that Mitrovic could have his eyes on - on his way to scoring 59 goals the Middlesbrough forward netted nine hat-tricks. A record for a single season. Mitrovic is currently on two, but it's not beyond the realms of possibility that he'll break other records this season.

So there we have it. While Mitrovic is certainly the greatest single-season scorer in Championship history, he has a long way to go to break the all-time record. A few hat-tricks between now and the end of the season wouldn't hurt. 



https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/championship-goalscoring-record-how-many-goals-does-aleksandar-mitrovic-need-to-break-the-all-time-second-tier-record

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5 insane stats behind Mitrovic's record-breaking Championship season

Fulham continued their promotion push back to the Premier League with a 2-1 win at home to Peterborough on Wednesday night but there was further reason to celebrate for the Cottagers. Aleksandar Mitrovic netted both goals to take his tally for the season to 33, shattering the record for most goals in a Championship campaign.

Only Glenn Murray in 2012/13 (30 goals) and Ivan Toney last term (31 goals) had ever reached the 30-goal mark in a Championship season prior to this season, so for Mitrovic to do so with 14 games left for Fulham to play is nothing short of remarkable. Including assists, Mitrovic has actually played a direct hand in 40 goals in 30 league appearances for the west London outfit. In this piece we breakdown Mitrovic's record-breaking season and reveal five crazy stats behind it all.

1) Lightning starts. Mitrovic loves first half goals
While most teams come on stronger in the second half of matches, Aleksandar Mitrovic has actually started games in devastating fashion more often than not this season. Incredibly, Mitrovic would still be the joint-top scorer in the Championship this season even if he was subbed off at half-time every game. Mitrovic has scored 20 of his 33 league goals in the first half of matches in 2021/22, with only Blackburn's Ben Brereton Diaz netting as many in total.

2) Open play goal machine
You'd be forgiven for thinking Aleksandar Mitrovic would be at his most dangerous from set-pieces given his physical attributes, but the Serbia international has actually been ruthless from open play for Fulham this season. In fact, 24 of his 33 goals have come from open play situations, which is more goals than Barnsley (21) have netted as a team all campaign. Mitrovic's goals have helped Fulham scored 81 as a team this season, which is already more than any team managed in the Championship last term.

3) Air Mitro
The fact Mitrovic has scored an incredible number of goals from open play isn't to suggest the 27-year-old hasn't thrown himself about this season. The Fulham No.9 has incredibly scored nine headed goals already this season, which is more than 69 of the other 91 sides in England's top-four tiers have managed. In fact, his tally of headed goals alone would be enough to be the outright scorer for nine other teams in the Championship this season, including third-place Queens Park Rangers.



4) Mitrovic in a league of his own
Having shattered the record so early, it comes as no surprise Mitrovic stakes up favourably compared to some other recent high scoring individual Championship campaigns. A return of 33 goals in 30 appearances means Mitrovic is averaging more than a goal per game (1.1), which is by far and away better than anyone else in recent history. Even Ivan Toney, who only broke the Championship goalscoring record last season, had a goal-per-game average of 0.69. Not since the 2016/17 campaign with Newcastle's Dwight Gayle (0.72) has a top scorer come close to Mitrovic's current pace.

5) How many goals Mitrovic will score
Now Mitrovic has broken the record, the question is how many he will finish on. With 14 matches to go, the Serbian will likely finish with a tally that will never be broken again. At his current pace, Mitrovic is on course to score another 15 goals that would take his tally to 48 for the campaign. 48 goals would be more than nine teams scored collectively in the Championship last season.



https://www.whoscored.com/Articles/cv8aVdhZ20K7X21DMuoa-w/Show/5-insane-stats-behind-Mitrovic-s-record-breaking-Championship-season

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Mitrovic breaks goalscoring record but has some way to go to catch Middlesbrough legend

Aleksandar Mitrovic broke the Championship goalscoring record on Wednesday evening

Aleksandar Mitrovic broke the record for most Championship goals in a single season on Wednesday evening.

On a night three of Boro's play-off rivals recorded late wins, Mitrovic's brace against Peterborough United took him to 33 for the season, bettering Ivan Toney's previous record of 31 goals set just last season.

And while both goalscoring feats are to be celebrated, neither come close to the English second tier's real record - which is still owned by Middlesbrough goalscoring legend George Camsell.

While the record Fulham striker Mitrovic now holds only applies since the Championship's introduction in 2004, England's second tier - under the guise of the Football League Second Division - has been going for quite some time prior to that!

The real English second tier goalscoring record is actually held by Boro's Camsell and was set all the way back in 1926-27, with Camsell's incredible tally of 59 goals in 37 games helping Boro win the league title.

Camsell remains Middlesbrough's record goalscorer with 325 in total, and in that record-breaking season he scored nine hat-tricks which also remains a Football League record.

The goalscoring feat is even more impressive when considered that Camsell wasn't even a first-choice striker at start of the season. Dissatisfied with reserve football, Camsell had requested a transfer in the summer of 1926 and Boro set a mere £300 asking price.


George Camsell captured in a Boro team photo (Image: Middlesbrough FC)

They were bottom of the league table after four games having earned just one point but Boro's season kickstarted when star striker Jimmy McClelland was sidelined with injury. In his place for the game against Hull City stepped Camsell, who had joined the club from Durham City one year prior.

Though he didn't score in a 2-0 win over Hull, he netted twice in the next game, a 4-3 win over Bradford and he wouldn't look back from there.

After losing their first three games, Boro lost only four more over the remaining 38 games of the season and ended the season at the top of the table eight points clear of runners up Portsmouth. Camsell finished the season with his incredible record of 59 goals and the making of a Boro legend was under way.

As well as his incredible goalscoring records for Boro, Camsell also holds the honour of the best goals-per-game ratio for England too, having netted a remarkable 18 goals in nine games for the national team.

Mitrovic's new championship record is impressive no doubt, but still some way off the incredible George Camsell.



https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/mitrovic-championship-record-middlesbrough-camsell-23203731

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Preview: Cardiff City vs. Fulham - prediction, team news, lineups

Fulham make the trip to Cardiff City looking to strengthen their commanding position at the top of the Championship standings.

The Cottagers head into Saturday's game sitting nine points clear of second spot, while the Bluebirds remain in 19th position after failing to win either of their last two encounters.

Match preview
With an 11-point advantage over third position, Fulham are in an extremely strong position with regards to securing an immediate return to the Premier League.

Nevertheless, Marco Silva will not be overly pleased with his team's recent performances with the Cottagers only defeating struggling Peterborough United by a 2-1 scoreline in midweek.

At this stage of the campaign, results are all that matter, but Fulham have been below par for three matches now, a natural concern for Silva ahead of four away fixtures in five games.

That said, Fulham have not lost on the road since a 4-1 defeat to Coventry City on October 2, a run spanning eight league matches.

Aleksandar Mitrovic's double against Posh on Wednesday night made it 33 goals in the second tier, setting a new Championship high with 14 matches remaining.

Cardiff head into this fixture having failed to win in two games, a 1-1 draw at home to Blackpool being followed by a harsh 2-1 defeat at Huddersfield Town.

Nevertheless, despite the disappointment of conceding two late goals at the John Smith's Stadium, supporters will be delighted with the impact of interim boss Steve Morison.

Four wins from seven matches have moved the Bluebirds 15 points clear of the relegation zone, removing any concerns that the Welsh giants may lose their second-tier status.

Morison has previously criticised Cardiff's efforts in the final third, but Tommy Doyle's goal in midweek represented the eighth successive game that they have got on the scoresheet.

Cardiff City Championship form:

    W    W    L    W    D    L

Cardiff City form (all competitions):

    L   W    L    W    D    L

Fulham Championship form:

    W    D    W    W    L    W

Fulham form (all competitions):

    D    L    W    W    L    W

Team News
Despite the spirited performance at Huddersfield, Morison could show preference to freshening up his Cardiff side for this contest.

Joe Ralls may return in midfield with Ryan Wintle potentially dropping out of the team, while Uche Ikpeazu will hope to finally make his first start since his loan move from Middlesbrough.

Having made changes in midweek, Silva will likely opt to recall Harry Wilson for the game against his former club.

Bobby Decordova-Reid may potentially move into the middle, handing a rest to Fabio Carvalho, while Nathaniel Chalobah is an alternative to Harrison Reed or Jean Michael Seri.

Despite their substitute appearances against Posh, Josh Onomah and Ivan Cavaleiro could remain among the replacements.

Cardiff City possible starting lineup:
Smithies; Drameh, Ng, Flint, McGuinness, Bagan; Doyle, Ralls, Vaulks; Ikpeazu, Hugill

Fulham possible starting lineup:
Rodak; Williams, Adarabioyo, Ream, Robinson; Reed, Seri; Wilson, Reid, Kebano; Mitrovic

We say: Cardiff City 1-2 Fulham

Having pushed Huddersfield all of the way in midweek, Morison and his squad will fancy their chances of testing Fulham on home territory. However, despite their drop in form, the visitors still possess the superior firepower and we expect Silva's side to battle their way to a narrow victory.



https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/fulham/championship-promotion-race/preview/preview-cardiff-vs-fulham-prediction-team-news-lineups_478968.html?cQx=NN&newsnow

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Seri sparkles on his Fulham return

One of the stories of the first half of the season was Jean Michael Seri's return from the periphery to become a pivotal part of a Fulham side pushing for promotion. The Ivorian midfielder had been written off as an example of Fulham's costly folly after winning promotion to the Premier League in 2018 but emerged from the shadows to pull the strings perceptively for Marco Silva as the Whites began to move towards the top of the Championship table.

Such was his consistency that plenty of Fulham fans were both worried about how the side would fare in his absence at the African Cup of Nations and whether the Whites would exercise the option in Seri's contract, which expires this summer, that could extend his stay at Craven Cottage. Quite some turnaround for a man considered surplus to requirements in the summer after being farmed out on loan for Fulham's two previous Championship campaigns.

Seri seems to have answered the second question decisively in last night's match programme. "The last two times Fulham got promoted was by the playoffs, but this year we want it to be different. We want to dominate the league...not just get promoted, we want to be champions. That's the main thing that's changed our mentality. What's more important is Fulham has to stay in the Premier League. I will give my all. It will be my first ambition, to help Fulham stay in the Premier League."

Silva has such an abundance of riches to select from central midfield that Seri has had to wait for his chance to impress after returning from Cameroon. There have been a couple of substitute appearances, but he has played second fiddle to Tom Cairney and Nathaniel Chalobah in recent weeks. Paired with the all-action Harrison Reed in the middle of the park against Peterborough – perhaps as a response to the laboured display in the defeat by Huddersfield on Saturday – Seri stroked the ball around effortlessly, running the show from the middle of the park as the visitors appeared reluctant to press him too vigorously.

His blonde highlights, apparently an instruction from his wife, were prominent throughout as he took possession off the back four and switched the play with eye-catching ease. There was one sublime 40 yard pass out to Bobby Decordova-Reid on the right in the first half that seemed improbable, but not only did Seri envisage floating the ball over three Peterborough players, he pulled it off to perfection. Much better was to come in the second half. He should have ended up with at least one assist as Mitrovic failed to profit from one through ball when on at hat-trick and Harry Wilson seemed to be pulled down after the Welsh winger latched onto another.

Seri, who playfully asked the Hammersmith End for more volume in the second half as he prepared to take a corner, looks a cut above in this division as do several others in the current Fulham line-up. The real test will be whether he can deliver in the top division – where space and time will be at a premium. Silva has plenty to ponder as he looks both to consolidate Fulham's strong Championship position and plan for the demanding challenges that lie ahead. Having a rejuvenated Seri among his options, however, is a real tonic.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2022/02/seri-sparkles-on-his-fulham-return/

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How is Kevin McDonald faring since leaving Fulham?

Having plied his trade for both Burnley and Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Championship during his career, Kevin McDonald joined Fulham in 2016 to add a level-headed presence to their midfield.

After spending three years at Molineux, the Scot made the move to the Capital and immediately became a key figure in the Cottagers' side, making 94 appearances for the club in his first two seasons.

Promotion to the Premier League though in 2018 saw his game-time dwindle – injuries didn't help of course but big-money signings like Andre-Franck Zambo Anguissa and Jean Michael Seri saw him slip down the pecking order.

It was the same story though in 2019-20 when the Cottagers were back in the Championship, with McDonald appearing just 18 times in all competitions and things got worse the following campaign – having been absent for the whole of the 2020-21 season, the midfielder revealed that he needed a kidney transplant.

That transplant occurred in April last year and following the expiration of his Fulham contract lsat summer, McDonald was without a contract as he recovered, but has he been able to find a new club since?

The answer is yes as after training with them in January, McDonald penned a short-term deal with Scottish Premiership side Dundee United in a bid to try and get back to the level he was once at.

It didn't take long for McDonald to get his first start as a Tangerines player as well, as he played 73 minutes in a 2-0 victory over Motherwell.

McDonald completed a mammoth 11 interceptions in his time on the pitch (via Wyscout) and also completed 28 passes, won his only aerial duel and completed both dribbles attempted.

Whether the veteran can play as regularly as he'd like is another matter, but he's clearly got something to give at Tannadice between now and the end of the season.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/how-is-kevin-mcdonald-faring-since-leaving-fulham/

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Mitro: I Felt Love

Fresh from breaking the Championship goal record, Aleksandar Mitrović spoke to journalists about his relationship with Fulham.

"The moment I stepped in this place, I felt love," he explained. "This Club is maybe not the biggest club in the world, but it's a club that has soul, passion. This Club is like a small family.

"I have an amazing connection with this Club, and every single time I step on this pitch I feel really comfortable, I get a really loving welcome.

"It's an amazing feeling and it's nice to share this amazing moment with this Club and these fans."

It's 33 league goals for Mitro now in 2021/22, and he's put it down to being in peak condition.

"I feel really good," he said. "I feel I'm in the best shape of my life, physically and mentally.

"The Manager is tough, they changed the way we train. They changed a lot of details and I think as a team we feel more fit.

"I don't know, I just feel fitter than I was before.  We run a lot, we press a lot.

"The Manager wants us to be on the front foot and at top speed always, so there's been some adjustment, but it's adjustment that has made a big difference for us."



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2022/february/24/mitro-i-felt-love/

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Cardiff City TV | City vs. Fulham

If you're not able to make it to CCS on Saturday afternoon when City host Fulham, you can still find live match coverage on Cardiff City TV!

Cardiff City vs. Fulham

Saturday, February 26th, 2022

Kick-Off: 3pm

As Saturday's Sky Bet Championship fixture will be kicking off at 3pm, supporters in the UK will not be able to watch Cardiff City TV's livestream of the fixture. However, Audio Passes are still available for purchase so that you can tune in on Saturday afternoon!

Audio Passes for this fixture are available for £2.50, with a Monthly Audio Pass on sale for £5 for supporters who would prefer to listen to every available fixture over the next few weeks!

International Video Passes - available now for supporters overseas!

Overseas supporters can watch City's clash with Fulham live on Cardiff City TV by grabbing an International Match Pass for just £10! Tune in ahead of kick-off for exclusive pre-match coverage presented by Cardiff City TV.

As part of the International Match Pass, Cardiff City TV's coverage includes:

    Pre-match show
    Multi-camera production
    Commentary
    Replays

Click here to purchase your Match Pass!

Cardiff City TV's pre-match live show will also be available to watch, free of charge, on the Club's official YouTube channel!



https://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/cardiff-city-tv-city-vs-fulham

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Aleksandar Mitrovic wants Fulham title glory after smashing Championship scoring record with 14 games to spare

Aleksandar Mitrovic has set his eyes on the Championship title after smashing the division's goalscoring record on Wednesday night.

A brace from the Serbian in Fulham's 2-1 victory over Peterborough saw the striker take his tally for the season to 33 goals from 30 games, surpassing the previous record of 31, set by Brentford's Ivan Toney only last season.

With the record sealed with 14 games to spare, Mitrovic is now aiming for the title. Fulham are nine points clear of former manager Scott Parker and his Bournemouth side in second, though the Cherries have two games in hand.

"That is the target, to finish top and to finish first," said Mitrovic. "14 games to play and nothing is done yet, we need to focus on Cardiff [on Saturday] now."

On the record, Mitrovic added: "It feels nice, 33 goals. It was a nice feeling to break the record but most important is the three points.

"I should have had a hat-trick but it was a good performance. I have a few records but this feels nice. I have one with Serbia and now here. I feel great, I feel good with this team."

Fulham manager Marco Silva added: "Congratulations to him. The numbers speak for themselves. 33 goals at the end of February, with 14 more games to play, it's fantastic.

"What I like about him is he's always demanding more and more and more. He knows that from tomorrow I'll demand more and more from him.

"Mitro's numbers reflect our philosophy and the players have bought into it. We're creating and building something important."



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/aleksandar-mitrovic-fulham-goalscoring-record-b984501.html

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Reed ready for regular role

Harrison Reed was delighted to back in the Fulham starting line-up as the league leaders bounced back from a rare defeat to beat Peterborough last night – and the midfielder wants the Whites to keep on going.

Aleksandar Mitrovic's double was enough to overcome a plucky Peterborough side at Craven Cottage and Reed was in no doubt about the importance of the midweek win following Saturday's reverse at the hands of Huddersfield. Reed told FFC this afternoon:

"It was crucial to show a response and get back to winning ways after a disappointing one on Saturday. It was the perfect opportunity to do that and we managed to take the three points. It shows that we're level headed and we're able to show a response. We spoke before the game about wanting to put things right and we did that."

The all-action midfielder was pleased to be given the opportunity to stake a claim for a regular spot in Marco Silva's engine room.

"It was great. I want to play every game obviously but we've got a great squad and it takes patience sometimes. I have to bide my time, make an impact off the bench. The manager put me back in last night and I was really pleased to do that."

He feels there is more to come from Fulham, but isn't looking too far ahead with a tough trip to Cardiff coming up this weekend.

"I think the form under their new manager has been really good. They are proving a difficult team to beat. We will recover today, prepare tomorrow and get ready to go again. It is the same message as it has been all season: take each game as it comes and just keep trying to keep trying to find that form and consistency – and hopefully it stands us in good stead come the end of the season."



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2022/02/reed-ready-for-regular-role/

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Mitrovic savours special bond with Fulham family

Record breaker Aleksandar Mitrovic spoke of his special bond with the Fulham fanbase after last night's victory over Peterborough United.

The Serbian striker's brace secured another vital three points and took him past Ivan Toney's leading tally of Championship goals in a season. He told the waiting press pack after the final whistle last night about why Fulham is so special to him.

"The moment I stepped in this place, I felt love. This club is maybe not the biggest club in the world, but it's a club that has soul, passion. This club is like a small family. I have an amazing connection with this club, and every single time I step on this pitch I feel really comfortable, I get a really loving welcome. It's an amazing feeling and it's nice to share this amazing moment with this club and these fans."

Long may it continue.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2022/02/mitrovic-savours-special-bond-with-fulham-family/

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Pre-Cardiff Press Conference

Marco Silva is expecting a fresh Cardiff City challenge when Fulham travel to Wales on Saturday afternoon.

The Whites secured a comfortable win over Mick McCarthy's Bluebirds earlier in the campaign, but their results have picked up since former player Steve Morison took charge.

"Of course it's different, because since they changed the manager they achieved completely different results," Silva explained. "They're in a different mood, definitely, different confidence as well, as a team.

"I remember when they came here to play, they were struggling with their results. But even that night was a little bit tough for us because the Championship is always like that.

"We scored at the start of the second half and then after that it was different, but the first half was tight and difficult for us.

"Now they are in a good mood, they are playing at home, and they're the type of team who are physical, play a direct game, long balls, really strong in set-pieces, and in this moment they are really strong in the offensive transition, counter attacks.

"Moments that we can switch off, they can punish you, definitely, because they have quick players in the attack line. They have two strikers who are always waiting for a mistake, to punish you. Their wing-backs can also support their attack well.

"Definitely it will be a tough match for us, another one. There's a short space between the two games. They played last night as well so it will be the same for both teams.

"It will be a really tough game but we go there with high confidence to play our game, to match them, be ready for both sides of the game, when the ball is on the grass and the ball is in the air, and we have to be as aggressive as we can as they know they will be for sure.

"It's up to us to control the situation, and express ourselves when we have the ball."



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2022/february/24/pre-cardiff-press-conference/

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'Confident' Cardiff can cause us problems, says Silva

Marco Silva believes Cardiff City can pose real problems for Fulham on Saturday afternoon.

The Bluebirds have enjoyed an upsurge in form since Steve Morison replaced Mick McCarthy at the Cardiff City Stadium winning four of their last seven matches to move fifteen points clear of the relegation zone. Cardiff could count themselves highly unfortunate to by beaten by Huddersfield Town in midweek and Silva knows his side are set for a serious challenge in south Wales.

Speaking to the press this afternoon, the Fulham head coach said:

"Of course it's different, because since they changed the manager they achieved completely different results. They're in a different mood, definitely, different confidence as well, as a team.

"I remember when they came here to play, they were struggling with their results. But even that night was a little bit tough for us because the Championship is always like that. We scored at the start of the second half and then after that it was different, but the first half was tight and difficult for us.

Now they are in a good mood, they are playing at home, and they're the type of team who are physical, play a direct game, long balls, really strong in set-pieces, and in this moment they are really strong in the offensive transition, counter attacks. Moments that we can switch off, they can punish you, definitely, because they have quick players in the attack line. They have two strikers who are always waiting for a mistake, to punish you. Their wing-backs can also support their attack well.

Definitely it will be a tough match for us, another one. There's a short space between the two games. They played last night as well so it will be the same for both teams. It will be a really tough game but we go there with high confidence to play our game, to match them, be ready for both sides of the game, when the ball is on the grass and the ball is in the air, and we have to be as aggressive as we can as they know they will be for sure. It's up to us to control the situation, and express ourselves when we have the ball."



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2022/02/confident-cardiff-can-cause-us-problems-says-silva/

[WhiteJC]

Cairney will miss Cardiff game because of illness

Fulham skipper Tom Cairney will miss Saturday's Championship clash with Cardiff because of a sickness bug that kept him out of Wednesday's 2-1 win over Peterborough.

Cairney, who scored against Cardiff at Craven Cottage in a 2-0 win on his return to the side in October following a serious knee injury, did not report to the club's Motspur Park training ground on Thursday and won't travel with the squad to the Welsh capital on Friday.

The Scotland international is the only player unavailable to Fulham boss Marco Silva, whose team will look to extend their lead at the top of the Championship against a Bluebirds side that sit 19th in the table but 15 points clear of the relegation zone.

"There are no big problems but it is the same situation with TC," Silva said.

"He was unwell last night and is still the same this morning, but all of the others have recovered well and are all OK."

Rodrigo Muniz is available for selection after sitting out the matches against Huddersfield and Peterborough due to a calf problem.

"With Rodrigo it was just precautionary but we didn't want him involved last night as we didn't want to take a risk with him," Silva explained.

"He has been training since Monday with his teammates and now is ready if I decide I want him to be involved in the match."



https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/cairney-will-miss-cardiff-game-because-of-illness

[WhiteJC]

Cyrus Christie: 'We must keep highlighting racism', says on-loan Swansea City defender

Cyrus Christie will be a free agent when his Fulham contract expires this summer

Warning - This article contains accounts of racist incidents

The memory of Cyrus Christie's first day at secondary school remains vivid almost two decades on.

The Republic of Ireland defender, who is on loan at Swansea City from Fulham, was alongside a friend who hailed from Ghana.

"He is still one of my best mates today," Christie says.

"Everyone was running and they just said, 'Get the black kid'. He was the darkest one out of us and they went straight for him.

"We grew up fighting racism a lot."

Christie is now 29. To an extent, he says, nothing has changed.

"It's progressing at a very slow rate," Christie adds.

He has had to endure racial abuse at various stages of a career which has featured more than 400 senior appearances for Coventry City, Derby County, Middlesbrough, Fulham, Nottingham Forest and now Swansea, as well as 29 international caps.

But he was all too aware of racism long before his time in football began with Coventry, his home-city club.

"Where I went to school, there were a lot of racist people in and around that area," he tells BBC Sport Wales.

"We had a few black kids that went to the school and people of different cultures, but it was predominantly white.

"There were a few race wars when we first went there - people coming in from outside the building with weapons and different things.

"We had to come through a lot. Our family members, our parents before us, had to face a lot.

"Coventry now is very multi-cultural. There's a lot of different races and cultures and it's definitely changing.

"But there is a lot going now in terms of social media. I think that's where most of the battle is now."

Online abuse is a major issue for football, with a string of players targeted in the last couple of years.

Swansea, the club Christie joined on loan for the rest of the season in January, held a social media blackout last April after Yan Dhanda, Ben Cabango and Jamal Lowe - who is now at Bournemouth - were sent racist messages.

Christie has suffered "many cases" of abuse, whether playing club football or for the Republic of Ireland.

"There was a phase where I was getting five or 10 messages pretty much after every game," he says.

"It's not so much that it's aimed at me, it's that your family see it, your little cousins see it and get upset.

"There was one where someone was sending me pictures of black people hanging from a tree.

"He was saying it's me and my family next - he was going to kill me. I am thick-skinned. It's kind of like yeah, okay, whatever.

"But for other people, they feel a lot more threatened. They might not have encountered any racism in their life and won't know how to deal with it."

Christie agrees with the suggestion, made by numerous footballing figures in recent times, that social media companies must do more to combat the abuse.

"People now can just jump on to any platform and abuse who they want," he says.

"You see some of the people and it's grown men with kids. Some of them are old enough to be my dad. That's quite sad, embarrassing."

Christie, who was named on the Football Black List in 2021, feels it is vital for footballers to speak out about racism.

"When you bring it up, it's always, 'Why are you bringing it up?'. But if you don't bring it up, the issues will stay," he says.

"We have to keep highlighting the issues.

"It's not just the people of different races. It's the white players as well who are bringing it up. They have been in certain situations.

"I think sometimes the white person's voice on racism is a lot more powerful than mine because, weird as it sounds, people will listen to them more, even though they have never been through it."

Christie is a footballer who is determined to use his profile to make a mark away from the pitch.

He has worked extensively with Football Beyond Borders, a charity which aims to help people from disadvantaged backgrounds, and the Brixton Soup Kitchen.

In 2020, he set up the Cyrus Christie Foundation, which he funds out of his own pocket with the aim of creating "positive social change" in Coventry.

The idea is to give youngsters the chance to "reach their goals", whether they are in sport or any other industry.

"If somebody wants to become a musician, we would pay for their studio time," Christie explains.

"It could be anything - it's to help people find their path in life. If we can play a little part in helping people achieve what they want to achieve, it gives us a great feeling."

Based in London but living in south Wales during his loan spell at Swansea, Christie has been home to Coventry more often than anticipated in recent weeks.

The visits were to see his grandmother, Havelin, who passed away earlier this month.

When Christie scored his first goal in 20 months to help Swansea to victory over Bristol City, he pointed to the skies in tribute to a woman who had been a major influence in his life.

"She was a great human being," he says.

"She had a tough time coming over from Jamaica - to Leicester first, then Coventry. They were the only black family there.

"She was a big rock, a hub for the family. She will be a big miss."

Havelin Christie will remain in her grandson's thoughts, whether his focus is on football, his foundation or the fight against racism.

"I think everyone can make a difference, whether that's 1%, 10% - whatever it might be," he says.

"If more people come to the forefront, things will change for the better."



https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/60402847

[WhiteJC]

Fulham 2-1 Peterborough United: Player ratings

Marek Rodak: There was very little for Rodak to do today but he almost made a mess with the ball at his feet late in the second half, he held onto it for too long and was lucky to see the attacker's challenge go behind for a goal kick. In the second half he delivered a beautiful ball out wide to Decordova-Reid to set up an attack which was definitely his highlight. Nothing he could have done to stop the goal. 6

Neco Williams: A very promising performance again from Williams, I still think he has work to do to improve defensively and will be found out against better sides but driving forwards he looks very good indeed. He whipped in some beautiful crosses and made an excellent run from halfway into the area, passing 4 players on his way, it ended with a penalty shout and what should have been a goal for Harrison Reed after Decordova-Reid picked up the ball to lay it off for him. 7

Tosin Adarabioyo: A solid game from Tosin until the Peterborough goal, he was an onlooker as Seri found Wilson who's volley was parried away and he wasn't alert enough to the counter attack. His man had the edge on him as soon as the ball came forward and he was unable to get back to help Ream out against the attacking duo of Morton and Marriott. These lapses in concentration must be cut out and they make me nervous as we approach another season in the Premier League. 6

Tim Ream: A relatively strong performance from the captain in Cairney's absence but nothing to shout about. The defence still seems leaky as it has done for a while now and Ream, along with others, giving the ball away in dangerous areas has contributed to that. It seems to happen most games at the moment but that is something we have to risk to play the way we do. 6

Antonee Robinson: I want to highlight an excellent piece of covering from Robinson who somehow mustered up the pace to prevent a one on one chance for Peterborough, he might not be in the best vain of form but he certainly showed his worth on this occasion. Aside from that it was a fairly solid performance from him, he was caught out of position a couple of times but so was everyone in that backline. 6

Harrison Reed: Much like Seri he's found himself sat on the bench recently behind Chalobah but was restored to the starting line up for this one. He was as reliable as ever and found himself in a more advance position filling in for Cairney who was out with illness. It was his inventive flick on that found Mitrovic before he was taken out for the penalty, I'm not sure he meant it but it still came off. He also had a rare opportunity to grab himself a goal, he managed to keep his effort on target but should have directed it either side of the keeper. If Cairney is back on the weekend then it will most likely be between Reed and Seri for the CDM spot. 7

Jean Michael Seri: I've been surprised we haven't seen more of Seri since he returned from AFCON and this performance showed why. He controlled everything through the middle and really showed off his range of passing. Peterborough did well to crowd us out in the first half but in the second half he found the gaps and provided two sumptuous chips behind their backline to Mitrovic and Wilson who were both denied one on one by some great goalkeeping, any other day and that's two assists for Seri, no less than he deserved. My man of the match. 8

Fabio Carvalho: Carvalho struggled to break through the Peterborough defence in the first half but as the space opened up in the second half he certainly made the most of it. Once again he looked menacing every time he touched the ball, and his skill followed by a perfectly weighted through ball found Kebano who in turn found Mitrovic to make it 2-0. A beautifully crafted move started by Fabio. His name was sung once again from the Hammy End after contract situations have hushed that recently but I for one will sing his name every game I can. He's a very talented player who I want to watch as much as possible whilst we still can. 8

Bobby Decordova-Reid: Bobby showed his value with his work rate and willingness to fill in various positions. He started the game wide right but was frustrated by the Peterborough defence and struggled to make quite the same impact that he has in recent games. Despite that, he found himself in promising positions and should have had an assist as he set up Reed who was denied by the fingertips of Benda. Later on he found himself in central midfield as Reed was replaced by Wilson who occupied the right wing position. 7

Neeskens Kebano: Back in the starting lineup after being benched on Saturday and the tricky winger showed his form again. Along with the rest of the side he struggled to really make an impact in the first half but he found gaps in the second and after five games without a goal involvement he managed his 6th assist of the season as his cross inevitably found Mitrovic to make it 2-0. 7

Aleksandar Mitrovic: Record breaker! We all knew it wouldn't be long until he broke the record, he was taken down in the first half and dispatched the resulting penalty. He sent the keeper the wrong way to make it 32 goals in 30 games and he was on hand to place a side-footed volley into the corner of the net in the second half to extend his tally. On another day he'd have followed it up with two more goals! He'll be kicking himself that he didn't capitalise on a couple of free headers and he was denied his hat-trick by some excellent goalkeeping after being slipped through by Seri. Once again his hold up play and passing was impressive. 8

Substitutes:

Harry Wilson: Wilson disappointed again when he came on, he was relatively quiet compared to the standard we've seen him at for much of the season and we've come to expect a lot more which is a compliment to him. He made a brilliant run in the closing stages and latched onto Seri's ball over the top but didn't connect as he'd have hoped and was denied by Benda, the counter attack followed this and Marriott pulled one back for Peterborough to set up a nervy finish. 5

Ivan Cavaleiro: It was a decent cameo from Cavaleiro who continues to build up his fitness after an extensive injury lay-off. He was bright when he came on and created some promising situations down the left. He was unlucky not to find the net after he beat his man at the near post but he also blasted one well over the bar from distance. I think with some more game time he can be an important player between now and the end of the season. 7

Josh Onomah: He was only one for ten minutes and unsurprisingly didn't manage to get heavily involved in the play. 5



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2022/02/fulham-2-1-peterborough-united-player-ratings/

[WhiteJC]

Fabio Carvalho: Fulham's wonderkid continues to impress despite Premier League suitors circling

Ryan Sessegnon, Harvey Elliott, Chris Smalling and now Fabio Carvalho – the list of Fulham Academy graduates who have garnered the attention from some of the Premier League's biggest clubs over the years is impressive.

Much has been made of Carvalho's failed move to Liverpool in the January transfer window, a deal that only fell apart at the last minute due to the Football League not having any deal sheets for the agreement to loan him back to the Cottagers for the remainder of the season.

With seven goals, five assists and the discernible air of grace he's shown in the Championship this season, it's no wonder the 19-year-old playmaker has also reportedly piqued the interest of Manchester United in the last few days..

The aborted Anfield move means Carvalho will become a free agent this summer with Fulham finding themselves in the inevitable position of having missed the opportunity to cash in on the player in January.

The loss of Carvalho also poses a problem for head coach Marco Silva next season should they reach the Premier League. The attacker, who was born in Portugal but represents England at youth level, has become an integral member of this flying Fulham side who are chasing records this season.

In their recent FA Cup game against Premier League champions Manchester City at the Etihad, Fulham performed admirably in the face of significant adversity with Carvalho scoring the unlikely opener and going on to have a solid game despite Fulham losing 4-1.

After watching his side beat Fulham 2-1 at Craven Cottage, Huddersfield Town boss Carlos Corberan described the game against City as like "watching a Premier League match" – a nod to Fulham's great form which has largely been underpinned by the performances of Carvalho.

In the matchday programme for the Huddersfield game, Fulham owner Shahid Khan assured fans letting Fabio leave in January was never part of his plan.

"We did receive a lot of interest in Fabio Carvalho, but he wasn't going anywhere in the last window. We are targeting promotion and Fabio is very much part of that plan and we can see that he too is committed to that aim, regardless of what his future might look like after this season."

Against Peterborough, a game where Aleksandar Mitrovic became the first player to score 32 goals in a Championship season, Carvalho once again showed the flashes of brilliance that underlines what a special talent he is.

He was instrumental in the build-up to Fulham's second goal where his intricate midfield play fed Neeskens Kebano to set-up Mitrovic's side-footed volley while later in the game, a mazy run on the edge of the Peterborough box saw him glide past defenders and hit a left-footed shot that was only denied by a great save from Posh keeper Steven Benda.

While some players in his situation may have had their heads turned by the Premier League attention, Carvalho's unrelenting commitment to his team-mates points towards a professionalism and work ethic beyond his years.

Whether that is down to his own determination to impress potential suitors or his genuine respect for the club, only he will know but nevertheless, he continues to impress and remains one of the first names on the team sheet.

As mentioned, Fulham have a habit of producing fine English talent from their youth academy at Motspur Park with the most recent and relevant case to Carvalho's being Harvey Elliott.

Signed by Fulham's academy at U18 level and becoming the youngest ever Premier League player in 2019 at the age of 16 years and 30 days, Elliott signed for Liverpool a few months later and forced himself into Jurgen Klopp's squad this year, before picking up a nasty ankle injury.

Another distinguished alumnus of the Fulham academy, Ryan Sessegnon, won five awards in the 2017/2018 season when he was named Championship Player of the Season, Young Player of the Season and Apprentice of the Year as well as being named in the Team of the Season and EFL Club Developed XI.

Like Carvalho, his stellar Championship form turned several Premier League heads and he subsequently signed for Tottenham Hotspur in August 2019.

If Carvalho is destined for Liverpool, which looks likely as talks between the two clubs are ongoing, he will need to be prepared for a big step in physicality and quality.

It took the entirety of Jose Mourinho's tenure for Sessegnon to look the part for Spurs and only now, under Antonio Conte, the 21-year-old is beginning to see consistent game time.

As for Fulham, providing they do make it to the Premier League next season, the departure of their latest wonderkid will be a significant blow for their chances of staying up if the deal doesn't include a loan-back agreement.

It will be tough for Silva to fill the void left by such a dynamic and skilful attacking midfielder, but one is certain, Carvalho is only the latest special talent to come off the Motspur Park production line...



https://londonfootballscene.co.uk/2022/02/24/fabio-carvalho-fulhams-wonderkid-continues-to-impress-despite-premier-league-suitors-circling/

[WhiteJC]

Muniz to make Cardiff trip

Rodrigo Muniz is available for Fulham's trip to Cardiff City this weekend having shaken off a calf problem.

The Brazilian striker picked up the injury in the closing stages of the Whites' win at Hull a fortnight ago and missed the home games against Huddersfield and Peterborough. The 20 year-old, who has scored five goals in 384 minutes of Championship action since joining from Flamengo in August, is likely to be on the bench in south Wales.

Fulham head coach Marco Silva told his pre-match press conference earlier this afternoon:

"With Rodrigo it was just precautionary but we didn't want him involved last night as we didn't want to take a risk with him. He has been training since Monday with his teammates and now is ready if I decide I want him to be involved in the match."

Captain Tom Cairney is likely to miss Saturday's fixture having stayed away from Motspur Park today after still feeling under the weather. Silva said:

"There are no big problems but it is the same situation with TC. He was unwell last night and is still the same this morning, but all of the others have recovered well and are all OK."



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2022/02/muniz-to-make-cardiff-trip/