Wednesday Fulham Stuff - 11/10/23...

[WhiteJC]

Journalist explains why Bissouma could be in line for yet another suspension when he returns
Football.London's Alasdair Gold has explained that Yves Bissouma could be in line for another one-match suspension soon after the one he will serve against Fulham.

Bissouma had picked up a yellow card midway into the first half at Luton Town for cynically stopping a counter-attack, which was his fifth caution of the season.

According to the Premier League's rules, that meant that the Mali International was suspended for the clash against Fulham.

The 27-year-old was then sent off after receiving a second yellow for simulation towards the end of the half, with a red card also entailing a one-match suspension.

Red card cancels out original yellow card ban
Gold has now explained that because Bissouma got a red card at Kenilworth Road, he is still technically considered to be on four yellows.

That means that when the midfielder returns after serving his suspension against Fulham, he will still be liable to be suspended for one more match if he picks up another caution within the first 19 league games of the season.

Spurs Web Opinion
It was a moment of madness from Bissouma at Luton, which I am sure he will learn from. Postecoglou now faces the prospect of being without the midfielder for two matches over the next few weeks, which means that he would be relying on one of Hojbjerg or Skipp to deliver.



https://www.spurs-web.com/spurs-news/journalist-explains-why-bissouma-could-be-in-line-for-yet-another-suspension-when-he-returns/

[WhiteJC]

🎟 Midweek action at Motspur Park

Join us Wednesday night for an exciting evening of Women's football!

Don't miss out on securing your seat for Fulham FC Women's upcoming home league fixture against Dulwich Hamlet Women, kick-off 7.30pm.

With six wins from their last six games, the Women's side are relishing the opportunity to showcase their good form under the lights at Motspur Park.

Tickets for this fixture are priced at just £5 for Adults and £1 for Juniors.

SECURE YOUR SEAT
HOW TO BUY

Supporters can purchase tickets online at tickets.fulhamfc.com, over the phone by calling 0203 871 0810 (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm) or in person from the Fulham FC Ticket Office (Monday-Friday, 9:30am-4:30pm).

Tickets will be available to purchase on the door, subject to availability.



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2023/october/10/midweek-action/

[WhiteJC]

'He was finished at Arsenal': Pundit says attacker Mikel Arteta let go now 'running amok' at rivals
Tony Cascarino says he has been 'surprised' by Willian's transformation after his struggles at Arsenal.

The 35-year-old joined newly-promoted Fulham last summer and helped Marco Silva's side to a top-ten finish in the Premier League.

If a certain Aleksandar Mitrovic didn't get banned for eight games, then there is every chance they could have made Europe, with Willian playing a huge part in those strong performances.

Arsenal fans, and Mikel Arteta, will be wondering where on earth these performances were when he was playing for them, with Tony Cascarino stating that he looked like a 'spent force' at the Emirates Stadium, as he told talkSPORT.

Ironically enough, Willian's life as an Arsenal player started in a brilliant fashion when he assisted two on his debut against Fulham at Craven Cottage.

But that's when everything went downhill, as he only managed one more goal and three more assists for the rest of the campaign.

Willian 'running amok' at Fulham
"Willian is a 35-year-old," said Cascarino. "Where has he found his form? He ran amok down the left. It was a continual problem for Sheffield United.

"Wow. He has found his career from a player that looked like he had been finished when he joined Arsenal. When he left Chelsea to go to Arsenal, a lot of Arsenal fans would have been excited by Willian. He never got going. At All.

"But he has gone away, come back a couple of years later and he has been absolutely sensational for Fulhjam over the last year. Marco Silva was praising him to the hill about how good of a player he has been for them.

"He looked like a spent force when he joined Arsenal. But still, he is going down that left. Running amok and he is going past people. Looking to cut inside and outside. A real surprise."

When did Willian leave Arsenal?
Arsenal brought Willian in as a free transfer during the 2020/21 season following his departure from Chelsea during the COVID-hit 2019/2020 campaign.

But 12 months later, his contract was getting ripped up, he was out of the door and returning to Brazil.

At that moment, many would have felt that his career in the top European leagues was over.

But Willian clearly had other ideas because he has proven many people wrong with his performances, and in truth, Marco Silva also deserves credit for getting the best out of him.



https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2023/10/10/he-was-finished-at-arsenal-pundit-says-attacker-is-now-running-amok-in-premier-league/

[WhiteJC]

Exclusive: Fulham settle on devastating Mitrovic replacement as Silva sets heart on £25m Tottenham target
Fulham are looking into the signing of Gent forward Gift Orban as they look to find a replacement for Aleksandr Mitrovic in the January transfer window.

The Cottagers have been feeling the force of their failure to replace Mitrovic and will seek to rectify the situation in January.
Raul Jimenez, signed from Wolverhampton Wanderers, is yet to find the net in the Premier League and he has lost his starting role to Carlos Vinicius, who is joint-leading scorer this campaign with Bobby Decordova-Reid on just two goals.
Mitrovic is Fulham's all-time top scorer and bagged 15 goals in 28 games last season. His absence has been noticeable since a transfer to Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Hilal and Fulham are searching for new options.
The club were cautious not to rush into signing a Mitrovic replacement in case they got it wrong but one of the men they considered strongly in the final days of the summer window was Orban of Belgian side Gent.
The Nigeria-born striker was very open to a switch to England, with Tottenham also interested, yet the financial details to open up a possible deal felt too risky.
Gent wanted more than £25million for Orban, 21, and such a fee was deemed to be too high for a player that had just 22 games of experience in Belgian football – following a move from Norwegian side Stabaek in January.
Orban hit 20 goals over that period and has also added six goals so far this term. Fulham are looking again into his availability for January as part of their profiling for a new centre-forward for 2024.
He is shortlisted because of a very measured level of composure in front of goal and displays big confidence in himself around the penalty box. There is a rawness to him; he does not have the same stature as Mitrovic but he does manage to show power, strength and intelligence that gives him an edge.

Fulham lead Tottenham for Orban
Orban has struggled to find consistency in Belgium this season and was not included in the latest Nigeria squad, although there are reports that is due to a nationality dispute with Togo.
There is some hope that expectations may have dropped from the £25m price-tag, although sources in Belgium insist the club seem pretty determined to stick to their guns given his huge potential.

Fulham would be building on a Nigerian connection if he was to join, with Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi both making moves to West London this year.
There is still a level of interest from Spurs but with Son Heung-min and Richarlison as leading options and up and coming talent in Alejo Veliz and Jamie Donley ready to break through, there is uncertainty over them going in for him again this winter. Spurs also have a keen eye on Stuttgart's in-form forward Serhou Guirassy.



https://www.teamtalk.com/fulham/exlcusive-fulham-settle-devastating-mitrovic-replacement-silva-sets-heart-25m-tottenham-target

[WhiteJC]

Nottingham Forest enjoy lucky escape over Premier League winger
Nottingham Forest tried to sign Willian on a free transfer during the summer transfer window. Just two months into the new season, it would seem that the Reds enjoyed a lucky escape.

Forest wanted the player to sign terms at the City Ground as they looked for new players. The 35-year-old had even had a look around the training ground and the deal was quite far down the line.

Still, Forest missed out on the player with everything in place except the player's signature. Now, it looks as though the Reds are not going to rue the Brazilian's decision.

Forest missed out on Willian and now he's struggling
The experienced winger might have proved himself in the Premier League. However, his form of last season looks like nothing more than a purple patch that now looks way behind him.

During 2022/23, he was in fine form for the Cottagers. He scored five goals and claimed six assists during the campaign and even bagged a wonderful goal against Forest.

This season has proved a bit of a struggle though for Willian. He scored his first goal in eight outings at the weekend and it would appear that he's gone off the ball a little bit this season.

Forest enjoyed success after transfer setback
Ironically, Willian choosing to stay with Fulham meant they were less interested in Callum Hudson-Odoi. Ultimately, the 22-year-old moved to Forest and he looks really sharp so far.

Many Forest supporters raised eyebrows over this deal when it was being talked about. Although Frank Lampard called him 'immense' when he was at Chelsea, the signing would have smacked of short-termism.

Forest have now assembled an exceptionally talented squad. Furthermore, they've signed a number of players – including Hudson-Odoi – who could be solid investments in the future.

Willian is a good player. However, his form this season hasn't been great and Forest enjoyed a lucky escape over that potential transfer deal this summer.



https://www.nottinghamforest.news/2023/10/10/nottingham-forest-enjoy-lucky-escape-over-premier-league-winger/

[WhiteJC]

How Bradford City caretaker-manager Kevin McDonald's path to the dug-out started amid the toughest of times at Premier League club Fulham
DURING a difficult period in his life, let alone his football career, Kevin McDonald started to make contingencies for the future.

It has put him in good stead in his current role as Bradford City's caretaker manager.

Back in June 2021, the Scot – who turns 35 next month - underwent kidney surgery.

Knowing that he would need a transplant one day was something that the midfielder, who previously played in Yorkshire with Sheffield United, had contemplated since being diagnosed with IgA nephropathy - a chronic kidney disease that progressively gets worse - when he was 18.

He reached stage five of the disease in his early thirties; when one of his kidneys had stopped functioning, during his time at Fulham.

His elder brother Fraser offered to donate his organ and was approved as a match.

McDonald's body initially rejected the new kidney and his stay in hospital was a prolonged one. It was a time when he had to isolate himself for several months during a tough recovery process.

Thankfully, McDonald went onto recover. Still on the books of Fulham, a plan was in place for him to start himself on the coaching ladder.

It is likely to prove hugely beneficial ahead of his current role as interim manager after Bradford parted company with Mark Hughes last week.

McDonald got off to a winning start in last weekend's 1-0 League Two win over Swindon - to buy the League Two club an element of time in their search for a permanent replacement for Hughes.

On how his path into coaching started out, McDonald, speaking to The Yorkshire Post in the summer, said: "At the time, isolating after the surgery itself had a damaging effect and the time when I was off my feet probably took more of a toll than I'd have ever imagined.

"But a coaching thing was put in place and I took that opportunity.

"I saw my Fulham contract out to do some coaching with the under-18s and under-23s and we had one eye on me maybe not potentially playing. But the sole goal, if it was physically possible, was to play again.

"Coaching has been something I have always kind of always been intrigued by. I started looking at it from 28 onwards.

"First and foremost, I am here as a player and that is that. Maybe at the end of the contract, there might be something there, I have done my B licence and my A licence is pretty much finished as well.

"I have cracked on, in that side of things. But that's further down the line."



https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/how-bradford-city-caretaker-manager-kevin-mcdonalds-path-to-the-dug-out-started-amid-the-toughest-of-times-at-premier-league-club-fulham-4366523

[WhiteJC]

Liverpool monitoring Joao Palhinha as Fulham set price
Liverpool are still monitoring Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha ahead of next year, Anfield Watch has been told.

Palhinha signed a new contract with Fulham in September after coming very close to joining Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich over the summer window, with the deal collapsing on the final day.

It's our information that one of the reasons for the new contract was the promise of a pay-rise that was agreed in his previous deal.

Talks with Bayern have not moved forward since Deadline Day and that has alerted Liverpool to the 28-year-old's situation.

Anfield Watch was informed during the summer window that Jurgen Klopp had Palhinha on his wish list as Liverpool sought a specialist defensive midfielder, but Fulham ultimately refused to sell to any buyer because they were unable to find a replacement in time.

Though Fulham's vice-chairman has claimed there is no release clause in the new contract, sources say that a fee of around £70m should secure the signing of Palhinha.

Liverpool have already £60m set aside from the summer to spend in January, and could boost their finances for new additions further with the sale of Mohamed Salah, if clubs from the Saudi Pro League make a return –though a mid-season sale of the club's best player is extremely unlikely.

Palhinha is a natural 'number six' who has played 48 games for Fulham, scoring five goals, since his move from Sporting CP in the summer of 2022, and was widely recognised as one of the Premier League's best players last season.

The 28-year-old has also picked up an incredible 17 yellow cards in his time with the Cottagers, without getting sent off once.

After failing to land either Moises Caicedo or Romeo Lavia during the summer, Liverpool have regularly been using Alexis Mac Allister to fulfil the deeper-lying role in midfield, despite also signing a more naturally defensive operator in 30-year-old Wataru Endo.

Anfield Watch has also reported that another player Liverpool were linked with over the summer, Andre Trindade, remains hopeful that the Reds will reignite their interest in him this January as he closes in on Copa Libertadores glory with Fluminense.



https://anfieldwatch.co.uk/liverpool-monitoring-joao-palhinha-as-fulham-set-price/

[WhiteJC]

"I shouldn't have done it" – Fulham player in mea culpa to teammate after controversial comments
Prior to Belgium's upcoming games, there's been a little controversy at the national team, as Fulham player Timothy Castagne made some comments about Thibaut Courtois.

The fullback claimed "it would be strange if Thibaut came back as if nothing had happened", as the goalkeeper continues his recovery from a bad injury.

As Castagne today held a press conference at the national team campaign, he was obviously bombarded with questions about his statements. Quoted by DHNet, the Fulham player apologised for it all.

The Fulham player started by claiming he shouldn't have said what he did just before the games.

"The timing of this interview wasn't right. I shouldn't have talked about it before important qualifying matches. We need to concentrate on football. And he's in an important phase of his rehabilitation."

Then when asked whether he'd apologise to Courtois, Castagne said he's already spoke to the goalkeeper.

"Yes, we spoke. I'm not going to reveal the content of our conversation. If he's not too angry with me? You'll have to ask him. I don't think he is. He knows the timing wasn't right. I shouldn't have done it and he knows that."

The Fulham fullback once again said it was his fault and insisted he wants Courtois back in the squad when ready.

"I'm the one who blames myself. Thibaut remains a very good player. He will always be important to the group. I'm not going to speak for the rest of the team, but obviously we're open to Thibaut's return. It doesn't just depend on us. We'll see how it goes."

Without Courtois, Belgium are playing Austria on Friday and Sweden on Monday in the Euro qualifiers. They're currently on top of Group F, with four wins and one draw in five games, and should avoid controversies in the squad to keep up with that great form.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/i-shouldnt-done-fulham-player-mea-culpa-teammate-controversial-comments/

[WhiteJC]

Very gifted': Pundit can't believe £3m Fulham player doesn't have more international caps
Fulham have re-established themselves in the Premier League over the past 12 months, and some key players are now getting the international recognition they deserve.

Tim Ream is finally getting the gametime he deserves for the USA, Bernd Leno is back in the Germany squad, while Kenny Tete earned a Netherlands call-up earlier this year.

However, one player who has been consistently overlooked at international level is Tom Cairney.

The £3m midfielder has been one of Fulham's very best players for nearly a decade now, but, for some reason, he's constantly been overlooked by Scotland since picking up a couple of caps five years ago.

Speaking on The Game Football Podcast, Tony Cascarino pointed out this injustice, and stated how shocked he was that Cairney hadn't played more international football.

Cairney should've played more for Scotland
Cascarino shared his verdict on the midfielder.

"They have, if I describe Fulham, it's one player, and I find this like the eighth wonder of the world, Cairney, Tom Cairney has only played twice for Scotland. Scotland have had some not very good teams over the years and he's a very gifted footballer, he's played twice for Scotland. Harry Wilson a good young player, but he's not gone on to be an even better player. They have a lot of players who have a point to prove," Cascarino said.

Shame
It's a massive shame that a player like Cairney will probably retire with just two international caps.

To be fair, it's not entirely the Scottish FA's fault.

Cairney had apparently been eyeing an England call-up at one point after his two Scotland caps, and, in all honesty, we could understand if that rubbed them up the wrong way.

With the likes of Scott McTominay, John McGinn and Billy Gilmour now all available for selection, it's unlikely that Cairney will ever get the call again, and it's a shame that he's not been able to have a more established international career considering how talented he is.



https://www.fulham.news/2023/10/10/very-gifted-pundit-cant-believe-3m-fulham-player-doesnt-have-more-international-caps/

[WhiteJC]

2 goals in 12 games: Fulham dodged a bullet by not signing £21m striker this summer
Fulham attempted to sign Brazilian striker Pedro from Flamengo in the summer but might be glad they didn't right now.

A report from the Evening Standard suggests that Fulham made a £21m bid for the 26-year-old in the transfer window.

After playing in the World Cup last year for Brazil, Pedro was starting to attract attention from the Premier League.

West Ham were also keen, but like Fulham, didn't make a big statement signing up top.

However, the two clubs were in very different situations going into this season.

The Hammers may have lost talisman Declan Rice, but they replaced him sufficiently with James Ward-Prowse and Edson Alvarez.

Fulham also lost their main man Aleksandar Mitrovic as he made the switch to the Saudi Pro League.

His £50m fee should have given Marco Silva a war chest to find a suitable replacement.

However, no striker came in and right now Raul Jimenez's worrying goal drought continues to drag on.

That doesn't mean that Fulham made the wrong call by not going all in to sign Pedro this summer.

The 26-year-old has struggled to recapture the form that saw him go to Qatar ever since Fulham's interest was made concrete.

Fulham made right call not pushing further for Pedro this summer
It's hard to argue right now that Fulham shouldn't have signed another centre-forward.

Carlos Vinicius has scored twice in all competitions and is currently the best-scoring striker at the club – outside of Jay Stansfield on loan at Birmingham City.

But the Brazilian's two tap-ins are hardly indicative of a player ready to step into Mitrovic's shoes.

Rodrigo Muniz has proved to be a lively substitute but is not yet ready to regularly start in the Premier League.

However, since the rumours of Pedro joining Fulham this summer surfaced, he's been in a similar position to Silva's current options.

He failed to score in all three Copa do Brasil games since August and has found the back of the net twice in nine games in that time.

Pedro might have adapted well under Marco Silva but it looks like he's not the player that Fulham need right now.



https://www.fulham.news/2023/10/10/2-goals-in-12-games-fulham-dodged-a-bullet-by-not-signing-21m-striker-this-summer/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham looking to sign Tottenham Hotspur-linked striker Gift Orban as replacement for Mitrovic
Fulham are reportedly eyeing a move for Tottenham-linked striker Gift Orban as a replacement for Aleksandar Mitrović.

According to TeamTalk, the Cottagers are seeking to pursue a deal for the Nigerian striker in the January transfer window as they look to bolster their attacking options.

Fulham had brought in Raúl Jiménez as a replacement for Mitrović but the Mexican has struggled to make an impact, failing to score in all of his 8 appearances for the London-based side.

Orban was linked with Tottenham in the just-concluded transfer window as a replacement for Harry Kane but Gent's valuation of the diminutive forward was too excessive for Spurs.

With Tottenham enjoying a brilliant start to the season that has seen them sit atop the Premier League standings and scoring 18 goals after eight games, it remains to be seen whether they still retain their interest in the services of the Gent forward.

Orban has been struggling of late in front of goal, failing to score a league goal since August but his return of 26 goals in 36 games for Gent is still impressive enough to convince any interested club about his quality.

The 21-year-old has been left out of the Super Eagles squad for their October internationals against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique.

Abdulkareem Abdulhamid



https://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=49092

[WhiteJC]

Fulham Set Price For Reds' Key Midfield Target
Dynamo at the Heart of Fulham

Joao Palhinha, the fulcrum around which Fulham's midfield pivots, has been a revelation since his arrival from Sporting CP in the summer of 2022. With a tally of five goals across 48 appearances for the Cottagers, his impact has been undeniable, yet it is his robust defensive contributions that have truly set him apart. A remarkable record of 17 yellow cards, without a single sending off, speaks to a player who is unafraid to put in a shift, to disrupt the opposition's flow with a calculated tenacity.

The Allure of Anfield: Liverpool's Keen Gaze
The Merseyside giants, Liverpool, have long cast an admiring glance towards Palhinha, with the midfielder featuring prominently on Jurgen Klopp's wish list, particularly as the Reds seek to bolster their defensive midfield options. The summer window brought with it whispers of interest, yet Fulham, unable to secure a suitable replacement, held firm, ensuring Palhinha remained a key figure at Craven Cottage. The vice-chairman of Fulham has staunchly denied the existence of a release clause in Palhinha's new contract, yet murmurs persist that a bid in the region of £70m might tempt the London club into a sale.

The Bavarian Soiree: A Move That Never Materialised
Palhinha's recent contract extension with Fulham, signed amidst the embers of a near-move to Bundesliga titans Bayern Munich, was not merely a commitment to his current club but also a nod to a promised pay-rise, a detail embedded in his previous deal. The talks with Bayern, which tantalisingly lingered until Deadline Day, have since stalled, leaving the door ajar for potential suitors to explore a January move for the Portuguese international.

The Financial Equation: Balancing Books and Ambitions
Liverpool, with a £60m war chest already earmarked for January acquisitions, find themselves in a position to potentially lure Palhinha to Anfield. The potential sale of star player Mohamed Salah to clubs in the Saudi Pro League, while highly improbable mid-season, could further inflate the Reds' transfer kitty. Yet, the question remains: will Liverpool sanction a move for Palhinha, especially given the substantial financial outlay required to secure his services?

Alternatives in the Horizon: Liverpool's Diverse Shortlist
While Palhinha remains a figure of interest, Liverpool's scouting network, ever-vigilant, has cast a wide net. Andre Trindade, enjoying a stellar season with Fluminense, remains a viable alternative, with the player himself reportedly hopeful of rekindling the Reds' interest this January. The pursuit of a specialist defensive midfielder, a role occasionally deputised by Alexis Mac Allister, continues to be a subplot in Liverpool's season, as Klopp seeks the ideal balance in his midfield trio.



https://eplindex.com/97825/fulham-set-price-for-reds-key-midfield-target.html

[filham]

I have yet to read anything that makes me confident we are going to find a good replacement for Mitro, there really is a risk that we could make yet another mistake with a big money striker.
Lets hope with a little more game time Vinnie can find a goal touch.

[ianthailand]

I have yet to read anything that makes me confident we are going to find a good replacement for Mitro, there really is a risk that we could make yet another mistake with a big money striker.
Lets hope with a little more game time Vinnie can find a goal touch.

You need more than hope, perhaps a Magic Lamp and use one of the Genies wishes to make Vinnie into a striker somewhere near Mitro's ability.

[SuffolkWhite]

We have to face facts, we aren't going to sign a quality striker if bigger clubs are possibly in for them.
 So we are gonna have to take a punt on a lesser known player a d Hope they come good.

[Marcel_Gecov]

Love how there is two articles here with completely contrasting views on Willian.

[hovewhite]

Love how there is two articles here with completely contrasting views on Willian.

Glad he stayed,with forest and the Saudis it's no wonder he's just hitting form.