Monday Fulham Stuff - 23/12/24...

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Results

Sunday 22/12
Everton	0-0	Chelsea
Fulham	0-0	Southampton
Leicester	0-3	Wolves
Man Utd	0-3	Bournemouth
Spurs	3-6	Liverpool

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Fulham 0-0 Southampton
New Southampton boss Ivan Juric saw first-hand how big a job he has got on his hands, with even some of his side's supporters mocking the team's efforts, despite them gaining a hard-fought goalless draw at in-form Fulham.

At a bitterly cold Craven Cottage, the former Roma boss and ex-Croatia player was an animated presence in the press seats after he had been announced as manager on Saturday, replacing the sacked Russell Martin.

But Juric, sitting alongside members of his coaching staff, had to wait until the 56th minute to see his team have a shot on target, with away fans chanting "we had a shot" after Adam Armstrong's tame 20-yard strike was straight at home keeper Bernd Leno.

That was the only save Leno had to make and highlighted Southampton's weakness up front. Their total of 11 goals from 17 matches is the lowest in the Premier League, with Everton's tally of 14 the next lowest.

Despite the battling point, Southampton are bottom of the top flight at Christmas for the first time in their history and their six-point tally is the joint-third lowest of any side in the Premier League era, with only Sheffield United (two in 2020-21) and Sunderland (five in 2005-06) having fewer.

Martin was sacked last Sunday, shortly after a humiliating 5-0 home loss to Tottenham, with Spurs scoring all their goals in the first half.

But Juric, 49, will be encouraged by the organisation and spirit the Saints showed to contain a Fulham side that had beaten Brighton and gained draws with Tottenham, Arsenal and Liverpool in their past four games.

Another boost would be the availability, and impact, of goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, who had missed six weeks because of a finger injury but ensured Southampton would not suffer a 14th league defeat this term.

The England international got fingertips to an curling effort from the dangerous Alex Iwobi and later showed superb reflexes to push over Harry Wilson's powerful half-volley.

Substitute Adama Traore had a glorious chance to win it late on for Fulham, but dragged an angled effort just wide.

'High pressing, more aggressive, hard to beat'
Martin had taken Southampton back into the Premier League after beating Leeds United in the Championship play-off final at Wembley in May, but admitted he had been "embarrassed" by his side's lowly top-flight points total before his near-18-month spell in charge came to an abrupt end.

Just as for the 2-1 Carabao Cup quarter-final loss against Liverpool on Wednesday, interim boss Simon Rusk led them from the dugout, with Juric's first game in charge set to be the home game against West Ham on 26 December.

Speaking about his new boss, Ramsdale said: "We met him and, from what came across, he wants to be high pressing, a little more aggressive, hard to beat, crushing spaces and playing in the right areas.

"We probably kicked more today than he would like to, so it's about finding that balance between kicking when we can and letting our boys in attack enjoy themselves."

Juric was constantly chatting tactics with his coaching staff up in the stands, sometimes in Italian, sometimes in English.

Early signs are he will expect his team to press more and applauded one that won a throw-in and was then critical when they were sitting off too much. "Steal the ball," was one call when they were not engaging.

One of the hallmarks of Martin's side was playing out from the back and knocking the ball around defence, but they may adopt a more direct style, with Juric unhappy when the Saints played a number of passes along their backline without getting anywhere.

One thing the new manager did like was a superb run from Tyler Dibling from halfway before he was blocked out by the home defence. The 18-year-old English forward has been one of the few bright sparks for Saints this season and Juric will be hoping to help him progress further.

Juric was also shouting encouragement to his side in the second half, only to be heckled by some home fans, who were only two rows away, with "he can't hear you" among the shouts.

But he nearly had the last laugh. As Southampton gained a couple of late corners and a chance to snatch a victory they did not deserve, Juric could be heard saying, 'come on guys, come on guys'.

For ninth-placed Fulham, manager Marco Silva felt the draw was a "missed opportunity" as victory would have moved them just four points behind fourth-placed Nottingham Forest.

He said: "We should have won the game definitely. We tried everything, it's impossible to finish a game with more attacking players in our team. Our attacking line was never really a threat for them.

"We had two or three clear chances, but we should have created more and have to be more clinical. That was a game we win if we take better decisions."

'We have to give him a chance to see what he can do'
A former midfielder, Juric played five times for Croatia and his club career included spells at Croatian side Hajduk Split, Sevilla in Spain and Italian duo Crotone and Genoa, whom he also went on to manage.

He had two years at Verona from 2021 and three in charge of Torino, before he was appointed Roma boss in September, only to be dismissed less than two months later, on 10 November, with the club only four points above the Serie A relegation zone.

BBC Radio Solent sports editor Adam Blackmore has urged supporters to give Juric "a chance".

On a special podcast episode, he said: "There's so much negativity. It almost feels like, especially on social media, people are waiting to give an opposite view or say something before they even have the facts in front of them.

"People will want to quote his bad spell at Roma or say he hasn't managed in England before, but we didn't know much about Mauricio Pochettino when he turned up all those years ago.

"Juric is a much more well-known quantity, having had good success at Hellas Verona and Torino. You are no mug if you have managed in Serie A for a few years.

"So I think we have to give him a chance to see what he can do. The results cannot be any worse than they are.

"I'm not sure how we should judge him. I don't think people should be expecting the club to stay up. We should be hoping they could have a miracle, but it would be that because no club has stayed up from the situation they are in."



https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/clygjz9y4zlt

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Fulham 0-0 Southampton: Ivan Juric watches from the stands as the Saints bring run of three successive league defeats to an end

    Ivan Juric was in attendance as Southampton drew 0-0 away to Fulham
    Simon Rusk was in interim charge, with Southampton securing a point

Ivan Juric offered very little to the casual observer at Craven Cottage as he watched his new charges earn a point for just the fourth time this term. The new Southampton boss - announced on Friday and in the stands on Saturday - remained largely pensive but for the odd remonstrative flail of the hand.

He knows the size of his task; turning the second-leakiest defence in the division into one with the solidity and discipline with which he made his name in Italy. For 95 minutes in west London, though, Southampton looked to have found some of that grit that has eluded them this term.

They were helped in large part by a Fulham side that struggled for creativity, particularly in the first half. Aaron Ramsdale was sporting a brand new, custom-made pair of gloves to protect his recently fractured finger, but he had scarcely a save to make before the break.

The second half saw his new piece of kit endure a somewhat more rigorous examination after the introduction of Adama Traore brought with it trademark drive and intensity, and it was the Spanish wrecking-ball who came inches from a late, late winner only to see his effort crawl past the post.

Despite an improved defensive showing that earned them just a sixth point of the season, the Saints will remain bottom at Christmas. But Juric will leave his perch in the stands knowing that he perhaps has more to work with than he might have initially expected.

A tight first half saw Fulham struggle to break down an improved Southampton defence that seemed to carry a touch of the solidity that Ivan Juric is best known for.

Alex Iwobi came close to an early breakthrough within just three minutes, as he almost caught the newly-recovered Ramsdale napping with a curling effort destined for the top right corner.

Returning from a fractured finger, Ramsdale's gloves had an enlarged middle and ring finger slot to protect his healing digit, but seemed to cause no discomfort as he turned Iwobi's effort past the post.

Fulham looked to hit Southampton on the counter, but struggled to do so with a real cutting edge. Errant through balls highlighted the creative loss incurred by Eile Smith Rowe's absaence in a frustrating first half.

The hosts were largely reduced to potshots, with Harry Wilson and Iwobi both send efforts wide of the mark in the latter stages of a half that saw Fulham unable to truly test Ramsdale and his gloves.

There were flashes of excitement, though. Chief among those was naturally the much-vaunted Tyler Dibling, who enjoyed a good battle with Calvin Bassey, while, there was youthful exuberance for Fulham, too, with Josh King making his first Premier League start.

Highly regarded at the club, the 17-year-old is described as someone who can 'wriggle out of tight spaces' - that much at the very least is apparent from his impressive display in midfield.

Yet the second half began with much more intensity from Fulham, and the crosses that had largely been lacking in the first half flew in from both flanks.

Marco Silva needed drive, and who better to turn to than Adama Traore? With a minute of his introduction Ramsdale was forced into his first real save of note in almost an hour, again coming from Iwobi.

On 67 minutes Traore then dangled a ball into the back post for a charging Wilson to latch onto, Ramsdale's instinctive stop preserving his clean sheet after a fearsome volley on the slide.

But just as Fulham looked to be improving, Southampton began to pose their own threat. Kyle Walker-Peters and Adam Armstrong were offered in-roads down the left with Traore's less diligent tracking back.

Yet the deadlock remained intact, Traore himself coming within centimetres of the winner on 86 minutes, but his effort was dragged agonisingly wide of the post. Fulham remain unbeaten in five, though the point gained against Southampton seems far smaller to those they earned in draws with Tottenham, Arsenal and Liverpool on that run.



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-14218759/Fulham-0-0-Southampton-Ivan-Juric-watches-stands-Saints-bring-run-three-successive-league-defeats-end.html

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USMNT star Antonee Robinson 'top of the list' for Liverpool as Jamie Carragher makes Anfield transfer prediction ahead of January window
USMNT star Antonee Robinson is "top of the list" when it comes to January transfer targets at Liverpool, claims Reds legend Jamie Carragher.

    Defender catching the eye for Fulham
    Reds looking for upgrade at left-back
    Formal offer may be tabled in 2025

WHAT HAPPENED?

The Fulham full-back continues to catch the eye in the Premier League, with two assists recorded during a visit to Anfield on December 14. That contest acted as another audition for Robinson, who has seen a move to Merseyside speculated on for some time.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Interest from Liverpool may be stepped up early in 2025, with Arne Slot considered to be in the market for an upgrade to Scottish left-back Andy Robertson – who has seen the odd mistake creep into his game. A formal offer could soon be presented to the Cottagers.

WHAT CARRAGHER SAID

Carragher believes the United States international will be registering on the radar at Anfield, telling Sky Sports when asked if Robinson's performance against Liverpool has convinced the Reds to make their move: "He was outstanding. He was the best player on the pitch. When you are going to Anfield and you are playing against Mo Salah – possibly the best player in the Premier League this season – and you come out of it with a Man of the Match award, that shows you how highly he is thought of. Yes, I think Liverpool probably will be shopping for a left-back in January and I'm sure he will be top of the list."

WHAT NEXT FOR ROBINSON?

Robinson is tied to a contract at Craven Cottage through to the summer of 2028, so will not come cheap as Fulham can demand the highest possible price for their prized asset. The 27-year-old has 50 caps for the USMNT and will be hoping to figure prominently in their countdown to the 2026 World Cup finals.



https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/usmnt-star-antonee-robinson-top-of-the-list-for-liverpool-as-jamie-carragher-makes-anfield-transfer-/blt07a53a3d63afb916?utm_id=fa3iys5y8hyz9ezk&utm_source_platform=newsnow#csa47a4e1466d77dc8

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Chelsea (A) Ticket Update
Ahead of our trip to Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day, supporters are reminded of the duplicate ticketing process for this fixture.

All tickets have now been distributed to supporters. Anyone who has lost their ticket must contact the Ticket Office no later than 2pm on Tuesday 24th December to be added to the duplicate ticket list.

After this deadline, the Ticket Office will not be able to facilitate any duplicate ticket requests.

Duplicate tickets can be collected on matchday from the Main Ticket Office, situated in the Shed End in between the Megastore and Frankie's Restaurant. Photo ID is required to collect any tickets.

The Ticket Office will be sharing a full sales list to Chelsea, which includes the block, row, and seat details and name of each ticket booker. It will be at Chelsea's discretion on matchday if they issue any late reprint requests. Tickets will only be handed out to the named booker upon production of Photo ID.

Supporters are reminded not to travel to Stamford Bridge without a valid match ticket.



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2024/december/20/chelsea-away-ticket-update/

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Fulham 0-0 Southampton
Fulham played out a third consecutive Premier League draw on Sunday afternoon.

Marco Silva made five changes to the team that started at Anfield, with Timothy Castagne, Calvin Bassey, Tom Cairney and Rodrigo Muniz coming into the XI. The manager also opted to hand Josh King his first ever start.

Fulham had their first attempt on goal with a couple of minutes on the clock, Alex Iwobi driving past three or four, before his audatious effort fell just wide of Aaron Ramsdale's goal at the far post.

A cagey opening ten minutes followed, as both teams looked to settle into the game and gain an early foothold. King was involved in the early action, buoying the home support with a brilliant interception and setting up a threating counter - the young midfielder looking to make an impact.

Jedi and Muniz linked up well down the left to create space for an opportunity in the 23rd minute. The defender's low cross ultimately failing to reach a white shirt before the Saints could clear the ball.

As newly installed Saints boss, Ivan Jurić, watched on from the stands, the visitors looked to be sitting deep and breaking up play, restricting Fulham to a handful of long-range attempts on goal.

Iwobi and Muniz continued to threaten but were unable to unlock the Southampton defence before the half-time whistle.

Fulham began the second half the brighter; King delivering a superb early cross which fell inches from the outstretched leg of Iwobi. The young midfielder continuing to look dangerous and create something whenever on the ball.

Ramsdale kept his side level with a wonder save in the 67th minute. Harry Wilson storming into the box with pace to meet a dangerous, deep cross from Adama, the resulting strike on goal bound for the top corner had the Saints keeper not miraculously tipped over.

As Silva's side searched for a winner, young forward Martial Godo was substituted on for his Premier League debut.

An additional five minutes passed before the referee blew the whistle on what might feel like an opportunity to take three points missed.
Fulham FC: Leno, Castagne, Diop, Bassey, Robinson, Berge (Lukić 75'), Cairney (Godo 76'), Wilson (Carlos Vinícius 87'), King (Traoré 62'), Iwobi, Rodrigo Muniz (Jiménez 62')

Subs: Andersen, Jiménez, Traoré, Carlos Vinícius, Cuenca, Lukić, Benda, Sessegnon, Godo

Southampton: Ramsdale, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Wood, Sugawara (Bree 80'), Downes, Aribo (Ugochukwu 57'), Walker-Peters, Mateus Fernandes, Dibling (Archer 45'), Adam Armstrong (Onuachu 91')

Subs: McCarthy, Manning, Lallana, Bree, Archer, Sulemana, Fraser, Ugochukwu, Onuachu



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2024/december/22/fulham-0-0-southampton/

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Fulham's attacking struggles could make Antonee Robinson sale tempting as Liverpool watch on
Russell Martin having already been sacked but Ivan Juric for some reason remaining uninstalled in the dugout made this the dullest of all the Premier League fixtures of the weekend and quite possibly of the entire season, both on paper and on the pitch.

We can only assume it was selected as a pre-Christmas kindness to those of us who needed the perfect game to fall asleep to, thus earning a much-needed respite from the last-minute shopping, the wrapping, the travelling, and the tedious droning of our most boring and distasteful loved ones. Spurs are on later, everyone, preserve your energy.

Southampton don't score many goals, while Fulham have made it their business to be boringly competent unless they have a lead to protect this season, somehow both boasting the third-best expected goals against and yet also dropping the most points from winning positions of any team this season.

If ever a game needed a goal to bring it to life, it was this one, but Southampton's caretaker management were determined to have at least established a slightly more solid foundation for the new manager and Fulham lacked a decisive creative spark in the absence of the injured Emile Smith Rowe.

Southampton need for Juric to work out above and beyond anything else if they are to have any hope of survival whatsoever this season, but Fulham are in a different position: their January window will be among the more interesting in the Premier League when it comes to assessing how they might fare in the second half of the campaign.

Marco Silva has got them too well-coached, solid and capable to be at any real risk of relegation, but it's hard to see them pushing on much further than their current upper-mid-table standing unless they are able to add a bit more quality to their side in the final third.

Fulham's bang-average goalscoring record speaks for itself, and has its role to play in their frequent inability to see games out: it is much too easy for trailing opposition to throw caution to the wind knowing they are unlikely to find the game killed off by an incisive bit of counter-attacking play that extends the Cottagers' lead.

And that's to say nothing of Liverpool reportedly standing in the left-back aisle of the January supermarket, weighing up their options and confusedly intoning "Andy Robertson...Antonee Robinson. Andy Robertson...Antonee Robinson".

That transfer link just makes too much sense to dismiss as outright guff. Robinson has been among the most productive assist-making full-backs in the division this season, while Robertson's red card in the pulsating ten-man draw against Fulham last week had been in the post for an awfully long time: he has been the clear weak link in an otherwise generally excellent Liverpool side all season, and they sit top of the table more in spite of his presence than because of it.

That loss would be difficult for Fulham fans to accept unless it came at a price sufficient both to replace Robinson and help to provide that extra firepower in the final third. In which case...it honestly might help solve Fulham's current biggest problem just as much as Liverpool's.



https://www.football365.com/news/fulhams-attacking-struggles-could-make-antonee-robinson-sale-tempting-as-liverpool-watch-on

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Fulham held by struggling Southampton
Fulham were held to a goalless daw by bottom side Southampton at Craven Cottage.

Harry Wilson came closest to grabbing all three points, but Saints keeper Aaron Ramsdale made a brilliant stop to deny the Welshman.

Adama Traore almost found the net for the Whites late on, but his shot went just wide.

Fulham sit ninth in the table, on 25 points, and are unbeaten in five matches.

Josh King, 17, made his first Premier League start for the club.
Fulham: Leno, Robinson, Bassey, Diop, Castagne, King (Traore 61′), Berge (Lukic 76′), Wilson (Vinicius 87′) , Cairney (Godo 76′), Iwobi, Muniz (Jimenez 61′)



https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/football-218381

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Positives and Negatives: Fulham 0-0 Southampton

Jack Stroudley looks back at Sunday's goalless draw with Southampton.

Well that wasn't very festive of you Fulham I must say. Following a positive few weeks against those towards the top of tree it felt like a foregone conclusion that Fulham would comfortably dispatch of Southampton, oh if only football worked like that. A point apiece on a drizzly and dark day on the Thames means that Fulham miss the opportunity to move up to as high as seventh at Christmas and the chance to be on a record number of points at this stage of a Premier League season. Football, eh? Anyway let's get into the talking points from a not so super Sunday.

Positives

The King's Speech

The only crumb of comfort to come from today was the first Premier League start for Josh King. I'll be honest I was very sceptical when finding out that the 17-year-old would be playing today, he proved me wrong. I thought particularly in the first-half he was at the centre of the limited bright moments we had. Just three misplaced passes alongside seven duels won and three tackles showcased that not only was King willing to drive forward and create chances but also press and get stuck in when needed. I can't see him starting unless we are without Pereira or Smith Rowe but a very good showing in the 62 minutes he got.

Negatives

Drab and dull

If I had a time machine I wouldn't go back to any poignant time in history, I'd rewind to 1:59pm on Sunday and do something more productive than watch Fulham v Southampton. I thought that the visitors defended well and frustrated us with most of our chances being speculative efforts from distance which failed to trouble Aaron Ramsdale. Between both Raul Jimenez and Rodrigo Muniz neither of our forward men mustered a shot that wasn't blocked, wide players failed to make an impact and midfielders struggled to pick out key passes. It was overall a day to forget to Fulham who didn't really knock on the door, rather just looked at the metaphorical door from afar.

More points dropped

Fulham once again showed an inability to pick up points in games that they should be winning. One point against Southampton, a 4-1 defeat against Wolves, a point at Ipswich, a 94th minute equaliser against West Ham, a 95th minute equaliser against Everton. It's becoming quite frustrating now and is something we haven't usually seen from Silva's side in the Premier League. During the last two campaigns we've been strong against the sides that we are expected to get results against but this season feels like a bit of a step back from that. We've paired that with an ability to pick up points against the top sides so are thankfully still in the pack, but it's something we need to change if we want to keep up with other European contenders.

A missed opportunity

Today felt like a golden opportunity to build on what has been a positive month for Fulham with a convincing win at home against a struggling side with an interim manager, so naturally we played out a game as boring as you'll see. I said last week after Liverpool we needed to be getting a minimum of seven points from Southampton, Bournemouth and Ipswich at home which now leaves us needing to win those next two home fixtures. It's so frustrating because Fulham feel like such a nearly team at the moment and with the sheer quality of the rest of the division I'm slightly concerned if we continue to drop points in games we shouldn't that we'll once again find ourselves with nothing to play for come March.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2024-12-22-positives-and-negatives-fulham-0-0-southampton/

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Marco Silva bemoans 'missed opportunity' as Fulham held by Southampton
The Cottagers have now won only once in their last six Premier League matches.

Marco Silva said Fulham's goalless draw with Southampton is a "missed opportunity" after they failed to rediscover their winning touch at Craven Cottage.

Fulham have now won only once in their last six Premier League matches and a big enough victory on Sunday could have seen them go above Manchester City in seventh.

Despite impressing in a 2-2 draw against Liverpool at Anfield last week, the Cottagers failed to produce their best against Saints, who were under the interim charge of Simon Rusk with Ivan Juric watching from the stands.

"I have to say that it's a missed opportunity for us to climb in the table," Silva said.

"In our last four results, they were going to have a bigger impact if today we took a step forward and won the game. We respect Southampton but these are the type of games we need to win at home and we didn't create enough chances in the game."

New boss Juric was in attendance from the stands as Saints picked up their first point since November 29.

Interim Rusk credited his side's performance as they managed a rare clean sheet in the capital.

"Credit to the players, their endeavour and concentration levels were excellent, and hopefully it's a platform to go forward here," Rusk said.

"(I've had) a little bit of contact with Ivan, we had some conversations, we're pleased that the club made that appointment.

"We've had a bit of dialogue, over the next few weeks we'll see Ivan's influence and the affect that has on the team."

Aaron Ramsdale, who donned special four-finger gloves after he returned from a hand injury, shone on his return to Saints' XI

The former Arsenal keeper, who joined Southampton for a club-record fee of £30million in the summer, made a series of terrific stops to grant his side a draw.

"Aaron's energy is fantastic," Rusk added.

"We're fortunate to have such a top-level player, he delivered a top level moment, it's great to see him back.

"It's a great platform not only for Aaron now but for the team as well."




https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/marco-silva-southampton-aaron-ramsdale-premier-league-manchester-city-b2668693.html

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Solid Saints frustrate Fulham
Marco Silva's moments of genius are heralded by the Hammersmith End choir, but his decision to radically rotate a side that had held Liverpool at Anfield allowed Southampton to scrap for only their sixth Premier League point as Ivan Juric watched his new charges frustrate Fulham at a chilly Craven Cottage. The Whites, with Josh King and Tom Cairney paired together in a blend of promising and experienced playmakers in with Andreas Pereira suspended and Emile Smith Rowe injured, were thwarted by a great goalkeeping display from Aaron Ramsdale as Simon Rusk secured a precious point for the struggling Saints.

The England international tipped a curler from Alex Iwobi wide of the far post in the fourth minute and made a sensational second half stop from Harry Wilson, but the hosts didn't do enough to break down a well-drilled visiting defence. Teenager King looked as bright as he was at Birmingham on his senior debut during his first Fulham start, biting into tackles and threading passes between the pink shirts, but Silva's side struggled to create clear-cut chances. Wilson whistled one over the bar before Iwobi came close with another effort from the edge of the area, but the Nigerian international also wasted good positions with wayward shots.

King typified how Fulham upped the ante after the interval producing a peach of a cross that found Iwobi at the far post, but Southampton stood firm. The travelling fans celebrated their only shot on target, a tame drive at Leno from Adam Armstrong, but their discipline at other end of the pitch was commendable. Ramsdale received acclaim after somehow stopping Wilson from ghosting in at the back post after Adama Traore's floated ball had caught his defenders unaware. It was a wonderful reaction save.

Raul Jimenez looked far more likely to break the deadlock than Rodrigo Muniz, who started in place of the Mexican after scoring at Liverpool, but the hosts struggled to get numbers into the penalty area until the closing stages. Martial Godo looked lively on his first Premier League appearance and created a late opening for Traore, who dragged a low drive agonisingly past the far post.

There was still time for the Saints to threaten a winner from a pair of stoppage-time set-pieces, but there was to be no winner in a game that was badly devoid of top-tier quality. Juric, who watched from the Johnny Haynes press box as he awaits a work permit to take over from Rusk, will hope that he can sprinkle some of his Torino magic rather than the reprise a ropey spell at Roma, which ended after just two months. The Croatian has his work cut out to keep Saints in the Premier League, but they already look much more competitive having sacked Russell Martin.

Silva's selections ahead of a busy period of festive period were surprising. King showed the sort of drive and dimension that has seen him star for Fulham's academy, but few of his team-mates moved the ball as swiftly as the teenager. That made it easy for the visitors to get behind the ball and record a creditable clean sheet, with the Fulham's forward play only perking up once Jimenez, Traore and Godo were summoned from the bench. This felt like a missed opportunity to climb a congested table before Boxing Day's derby – especially when Wilson limped off clutching his hamstring and substitute Sasa Lukic went down on his shoulder.

FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, Robinson, Diop, Bassey; Berge (Lukic 75), Cairney (Godo 76); Wilson (Vinicius 87), Iwobi, King (Traore 62); Muniz (Jimenez 62). Subs (not used): Benda, Andersen, R. Sessegnon, Cuenca.

BOOKED: Jimenez.

SOUTHAMPTON (3-4-1-2): Ramsdale, Wood, Bednarek, Harwood-Belis; Walker-Peters, Sugawara (Bree 80), Downes, Aribo (Ugochukwu 57); Fernandes; Dibling (Archer 45), Armstrong (Onachu 90+1). Subs (not used): McCarthy, Manning, Sulamena, Fraser, Lallana.

BOOKED: Downes, Sugawara, Ugochukwu.

REFEREE: Tim Robinson (West Sussex).

ATTENDANCE: 26,819.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2024/12/solid-saints-frustrate-fulham/

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Player Ratings: Fulham 0-0 Southampton

Rarely have I ever watched a game of football quite as boring as that one. Rarely does a Premier League fixture in this era of football had such little quality and excitement attached to it. This is going to be a difficult write up...

Bernd Leno

The stats say Southampton had a shot on target, which whilst being news to me is fantastic because it gives us something to talk about. Southampton's whole game was focused on a clean sheet, with very little inspiration in Fulham's defensive third. It left Leno with a very quiet day, claiming rare crosses doing his best to stay awake. 6/10.

Timothy Castagne

Fairly anonymous, especially in the first half where not only did he have very little to do defensively, but the Belgian also seemed allergic to going past the halfway line against a team who wanted all eleven men in their own half, which was strange. Put in a couple of crosses in the second half but never found his intended target. Hard to know if this performance was down to a lack of minutes or as a result of the team's mentality overall, but it was poor. 5/10.

Issa Diop

I don't know how big of a compliment to say that Issa was our best defender on a day when we rarely have to defend but for me, he was. Every time one of Southampton's attacking contingent dared to cross the halfway line, Diop was far too strong, easing them off the ball every single time and doing it calmly and authoritatively each time. Andersen may be back, but I don't think he'll come straight back in considering Diop's form. 6.5/10.

Calvin Bassey

Worried me slightly with the franticness of his game in the early stages. In a situation where Fulham had little to worry about, Bassey seemed to be a tad unfocused. Passes went astray once or twice early on. Then Tyler Dibling, in a rare forage forward, left Bassey for dead far too easily on the halfway line, leaving Diop to clean up the mess. Bar that, he was fine, but they were slightly worrying moments nonetheless. 5.5/10.

Antonee Robinson

Look on the bright side, if any of the big club's scouts came to the Cottage to keep an eye on Jedi here, they may have gone back to their respective scouting departments with a fairly bog standard report. This wasn't a typical Robinson performance. He didn't bomb forward often and when he did his crosses looked as menacing as they may have done three or four years ago when some fans believed Joe Bryan was a better full back, effectively, they were poor. 6/10.

Sander Berge

Finally we come to a player I can speak relatively positively about, and yet I'm left worrying over a potential injury, with Berge left hobbling down the tunnel with what looked like a nasty knock to his shin or ankle. When he was on the pitch, Berge cleaned up everything that came his way on the halfway line and quickly redistributed the ball into the Southampton half, allowing other players to...well...not do much with it. Slowly becoming a fairly un-droppable member of this midfield...if he stays fit. 7/10.

Tom Cairney

Considering the lack of available midfielders and the excitement around Cairney following his equaliser away to Tottenham swiftly before he earned his suspension, this was such a disappointing display in a game where he probably would've wanted to chaperone the 17-year old next to him. I can rarely remember watching a Fulham game with the skipper in and wondering whether or not he was on the field, he was that anonymous throughout. 5/10.

Josh King

It's so easy to over-exaggerate how well a young academy debutant has played because of the excitement surrounding their involvement, but Josh King is completely deserving of his praise here. On a pitch lacking quality or energy, he was constantly showing for the ball and showing quality on it. You could tell there was an eagerness early on to impress, the teenager playing the game at 100 miles an hour, which helped him to block a Dibling effort at one end and get on the ball at the other. He was brave in possession and strong in his midfield duels, something which can't be said for some other senior pros on the field. 7.5/10 – Man of the match.

Harry Wilson

Can't fault Wilson for at least having a go in a truly tepid game of football. While nobody else seemed to want to go near either goal, Wilson was trying the spectacular to bring the game and the Craven Cottage crowd to life. 25 minutes in he set up a chance for himself by bouncing a ball off his knee into a shooting position 20 yards out, volleying narrowly over. Another long range went over minutes later, and in the second half he got on the end of an Adama cross at the back post, only to see a close range effort wonderfully saved by Ramsdale. He threatened more than most, but to no reward. 6.5/10.

Alex Iwobi

Considering how focal Iwobi has become in our forward line recently, he is the one you would have most have hoped for a big performance from in this sort of game. Yet, bar two efforts from the left corner of the box which came to nothing in the end, as well as a low pea-roller late on, Iwobi drifted in and out of the game like he'd normally drift inside and outside of defenders. Maybe it's tiredness or just an element of frustration with the flow of the game, but it was an uninspiring showing. 6/10.

Rodrigo Muniz

God knows what happened to our normally energetic, bullish Brazilian here, but Muniz was really off it, even more so than the other 21 on the pitch contributing to such a shoddy showing of sport. Muniz, who so often bullies defenders in the air, had the air of a man unable to bully a kitten. He showed no fight, no endeavour to get into the box and no desire to win this game on his own like a young, enthusiastic striker should in a drab 0-0. Jimenez has to start at the Bridge after this. 4/10.
Substitutes

Adama Traore (61' for King)

Baffled by some of the criticism I've read about Adama online after this game. Traore created our best chance, with a wonderful cross to the back post that found Harry Wilson in a great area. He came the closest to scoring for Fulham, with a strong low effort just brushing past the post late on. He took men on when others looked scared to and wasn't afraid to use both feet to get the ball in the box. He was arguably our brightest attacking threat all game and yet he's copped a lot of abuse for apparently not tracking back once in added time? Baffling, he was sound, a really decent cameo off the bench. 7/10.

Raul Jimenez (61' for Muniz)

Definitely added an energy and aggression that was missing from Muniz for the first hour of the game. Sometimes that aggression was slightly misjudged with a couple of poor tackles, one which resulted in a booking. Had a decent volley in the box blocked by Sugawara, which was more attacking intent shown by most in a penalty area on the day. 6/10.

Sasa Lukic (74' for Berge)

Looked uncharacteristically uncomposed on the ball as soon as he came on, which was strange considering the game was hardly being played at a terrifyingly fast pace. Made a couple of worrying passes that against better opposition may have been jumped upon. Still, with the lack of midfield options right now, we could really do with the Serb fit for Boxing Day, with a worrying looking reoccurrence of his shoulder knock on show at the end of this one. 5.5/10.

Martial Godo (74' for Cairney)

Obviously our bench options were scarce but throwing Godo on here felt a bit weird. He's not Premier League quality, as harsh as it sounds for most of his Wigan spell he wasn't League One quality. Being a lower league player is absolutely fine, but how he's made a Premier League squad over someone like Callum Osmand who is actually doing something to prove his worth at this club, is beyond me. Godo lacked quality and looked afraid to beat his man here. 5/10.

Carlos Vinicius (87' for Wilson) came on too late to be fairly assessed.

Manager

Marco Silva

Silva got so much wrong here. The team selection looked bold before kick off with the number of changes made against a relegation threatened team and quite quickly with the performance on the pitch looked borderline arrogant. There looked to be so little game plan, with no clear attacking patterns and attacking players rarely venturing into the Southampton box. If there was no plan A, imagine my shock when, despite having 15 minutes to change things at half time, nothing changed in the second half. Like most Fulham games, the Whites came out from the break looking uninspired and demotivated, and whilst it continues to be an issue, I'll continue to mention it. The lack of full back involvement going forward against a weak defence was weird. The substitutions not only came on too late, but to bring on Godo in that scenario was hardly fair on a young winger as he is. The players were poor, but sadly for this one, the manager was the worst of the lot in my eyes. 3/10.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2024-12-22-player-ratings-fulham-0-0-southampton/

[WhiteJC]

Martial Godo hails 'lovely' time at Wigan Athletic after making Premier League bow with Fulham
Martial Godo hailed a 'lovely year' at Wigan Athletic for putting him on the right path after making his Premier League debut for Fulham.

The 21-year-old winger was a late substitute for the Cottagers in the 0-0 draw against Southampton at Craven Cottage, taking over from Tom Cairney for the last quarter-of-an-hour.

It's only two-and-a-half years since Godo was playing non-league football for Margate, before being spotted by a Fulham scout.

He spent last season with Latics, making 37 appearances and scoring four goals.

And his remarkable journey saw him become a Premier League footballer, under the watchful eye of Fulham skipper - and fellow former Tic - Antonee Robinson.

"Only two-and-a-half years ago, I was playing non-league football for Margate before joining the Fulham Academy," said Godo after the game.

"That was obviously great for me, because I was still in my comfort zone, still growing and learning, having never been in the Academy system before.

"I then spent a year on loan at Wigan, and that's really where it kicked off for me.

"It was lovely up there, I met some really great people, who really helped me on the way.

"After coming back to Fulham, I'm now in the Premier League, with a great team and with great staff around me, and hopefully there's many more years ahead."

It's not the first time Godo has spoken kindly about his time in the north west.

Last summer, after signing a new long-term contract with Fulham, he said: "My loan at Wigan went very well considering it was my first senior professional season. It allowed me to grow, learn and adapt so much both on and off the pitch, which helped me better myself in my development as a professional.

"I'm very pleased with last season and some of the experiences and friendships I gained while being out on loan. While there, I also had the honour of representing England, a privilege I will never forget. I'd like to thank everyone at the club, from the manager Shaun Maloney, to the spectacular fans who made my stay so special."



https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/football/martial-godo-hails-lovely-time-at-wigan-athletic-after-making-premier-league-bow-with-fulham-4920326

[WhiteJC]

Silva frets over Fulham injury crisis
Marco Silva is fretting over a Fulham injury crisis after he saw Sander Berge and Harry Wilson limp out of a soporific stalemate against bottom of the table Southampton.

The Whites lost Kenny Tete for two months at Liverpool last weekend and after Emile Smith Rowe picked up a knock in training this weekend, Silva's thin squad could face its toughest test against Chelsea on Boxing Day. Fulham's engine room could be further diminished after substitute Sasa Lukic went down clutching his shoulder.

The Fulham head coach said:

"Not good signs for Sander and Sasa. Sander Berge was a big knock. He twisted his ankle – let's see how he is going to react in the next few days. Lukic was out a long time with his shoulder, but he felt something in the final minutes. With Harrison Reed out, Smith Rowe not in condition to be involved. With Reiss Nelson out as well, we are short of options.

Silva was also pleased by the emergence of teenage midfielder Josh King.

He is a great talent. It is not a coincidence that he had a chance to start the game. He showed in some spells of the game what he is capable to do. It's an important moment of his career. Let's hope there are more to come."



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2024/12/silva-frets-over-fulham-injury-crisis/

[WhiteJC]

Saints stalemate is 'a missed opportunity', says Silva
Marco Silva described Fulham's forgettable goalless draw with rock bottom Southampton as 'a missed opportunity to climb the table'.

The Fulham boss rang the changes for the visit of the Saints to Craven Cottage with the cramped Christmas schedule in mind – but was left to rue his side's failure to break down a diligent visiting defence on a bitterly cold afternoon on the banks of the River Thames.

Silva told Premier League Productions after the final whistle:

"It's a missed opportunity for us definitely. That was a game that we win, if we take better decisions. We should have won the game, definitely. We tried everything from the start. It is impossible to finish a game with more attacking players in our team. Our attacking line was never really a threat for them. We had two or three clear chances, but we should have created more. We have to be more incisive and more clinical."

He praised seventeen year-old midfielder Josh King who became the second-youngest Fulham player to start a Premier League match behind French forward Moussa Dembele a decade ago.

"He is a great talent. It is not a coincidence that he had a chance to start the game. He showed in some spells of the game what he is capable to do. It's an important moment of his career. Let's hope there are more to come."



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2024/12/saints-stalemate-is-a-missed-opportunity-says-silva/