Tuesday Fulham Stuff - 02/12/25...

[WhiteJC]

Jack at Loz Not at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium - Blog 322
Date: 29th November 2025
Opposition: Tottenham Hotspur
Venue: Could they really not think of a more interesting name for it?
Score: 1-2
Fulham goal scorers: King Kenny Tete, Harry F Wilson
Man of the Match: in a crowded field of credible contenders, King Kenny leads the way. From his sweetly struck early goal to the free kick he won in the dying Moments to secure the win, Kenny didn't stop running or scrapping. He was always in the thick of the defensive action, always putting pressure on Spurs' forwards and always calm, alert, and unflappable
Moment of the Match: going 2-0 up in the 6th minute away from home against a Champions League(ish) side is the stuff of legends
Dinner: Loz - veggie burger and English rose; Jack - pie, mash and Gavi.

A London derby always carries an extra level of expectation, a different kind of tension in the build-up, a sharper focus on the result. Spurs are not our natural enemies but a rivalry has grown around the players we've shared, most of whom have been lauded by us and disregarded by them. Mouse Dembele is a notable exception; the current example, João Palhinha is not.

This was Marco Silva's 200th game in charge of Fulham, an extraordinary achievement in these fickle days of football, and a reminder that his endless contract negotiations continue, or at least that the endless questions about them do. The landmark was a reason for a positive performance but, on a high after Saturday's excellent game against Sunderland and energised by the vociferous away support and their own camaraderie, the Fulham team didn't need any extra encouragement to give the match their all.

To say Fulham started the game on the front foot doesn't do justice to our total dominance in the opening Moments. To be fair, we were helped by some criminal complacency from Spurs. Incredibly, a team we took 4 points from last season managed by a man who has been serially outmanoeuvred by Marco Silva for the last 4 years, underestimated us.

The first goal was made by the pace, trickery and unwavering attacking instincts of Samuel Chukwueze who skipped into the box with the ball stuck to his feet. Spurs' collective attempts to "defend" consisted of one of them sticking their foot out as the ball rolled by and the rest of them watching - with justified appreciation - as Kenny smashed it into the back of the net.

Four minutes later, the second goal was a good example of a team-wide attacking move. Unfortunately for Spurs, it was also a good example of their goalie being an idiot. But his complete incompetence (surely you put the ball out for a throw-in the Moment you're in trouble?) matched by more shocking complacency from his defenders (surely one of you races to the goal line?) takes nothing away from the link-up between Josh and Harry or Harry's extraordinary strike. He looked, he saw, he judged, he aimed, he arched the ball so smooth and true that Sess was already celebrating while it was six feet from the goal.

The Fulham cheers were almost drowned out by the boos of the disgruntled Spurs fans. The goalie looked like he couldn't believe this was happening to him. They nearly imploded at that point and they certainly would have done if Chukwueze's cheeky strike hadn't hit the post on the 10 minute mark.

Even without that boost, Fulham's command of the game continued. We looked threatening every time we went forward with Josh making most of the running despite getting swatted away by bigger, fiercer opponents. Raúl was tireless, Alex influential, Chukwueze almost uncontainable - he was a superb, last-ditch tackle away from his first goal.

Meanwhile, the defence was ensuring Spurs couldn't even have a shot with Andersen and Kenny heading and blocking every ball and Bassey battling hard with the forwards. Sess was everywhere - part of every attack, always in the box defending, tracking back, sprinting forwards - appearing wherever he was needed. It was either some kind of magic trick or an incredible feat of endurance combined with expert reading of the game.

Only one thing was certain at the start of the second half - Spurs wouldn't play as badly as they did in the first. In fact, they were much-improved both in terms of effort and tactics. Whilst the Fulham defence didn't panic, they sat back too much, looking nervy and were unable to clear their lines. They gave away corners as a matter of course and inevitably, Spurs scored. Kudos to their best player for his smartly taken shot from a difficult angle.

Thomas Frank, maniacally chewing the cud on the touchline, made some subs and we noticed João for the first time as he walked off the pitch. The man who was our best player has been reduced to anonymous outings in a chaotic midfield. He's lost his looks too; despondency will do that to a man.

Fulham were hanging on ever more desperately and for a while it felt like a matter of when not if Spurs scored again. They had some near misses and we needed an athletic goal line clearance from Raúl to keep us ahead. Chukwueze, for all his attacking brilliance, doesn't look like an assured defender and Harry had faded out.

If we were intrigued by ESR's performance from the bench last week, we were impressed on Saturday. Once again, Emile entered the fray with a clear message: I'm here now; everything's going to be ok. And it was. With Lukić getting stuck in behind him, Emile became a one-man press, instantly unsettling Spurs' comfortable rhythm. Later, Kevin arrived with some backheels and party tricks that gave Spurs a bit too much to think about as the clock ran down.

So after the second half began in a flutter of anxiety, it ended with Fulham's firm grip on the game restored. It's fair to say that Spurs were far from their best on Saturday night but the result is entirely deserved. We took our two early chances with panache and kept hold of our lead with grit and grace.

Random musings:-

- Raúl needs to work on his throw-ins but his demonstration of how to save a goal right in front of the hapless Vicario should have earned him a comedy award not a yellow card

- The black and gold kit looked stunning

- Thomas Frank must have nightmares about Harry Wilson

- One of the few advantages of watching a match on TV are the instant and extensive replays. We relived the second goal over and over while the boos droned on

- We also got to see the milling around at the end of the game in close-up. While the Spurs players were arguing the Fulham players were grinning and backslapping, celebrating together. Sess looked absolutely delighted - bad memories of Spurs well and truly banished. Everyone got a hug from Marco - Kenny got the biggest; Joa greeted Marco with a guttural Viking salute which Marco returned...

- ....and João spent a very long time talking to the Fulham coaches.

A hard-fought but stylish win is a fitting result for Marco's 200th game. What a long way we've come together since the draw with Middlesbrough on a warm August afternoon. Harry scored that day too.

Marco was an unknown quantity then but he quickly got to know our very special Club as he plotted to win the Championship. Whilst promotion was always a realistic aim, the future beyond that was far from certain. But here we are, sitting pretty in the Premier League for the fourth year in a row with another Cup quarter final to look forward to.

All we want to know is, will there be another 200 games? Because if there are, we're looking at better than mid table finishes and being one game from Wembley.

Whilst Thomas Frank is not a likeable man, he did a good job at Brentford and was respected for it. Now he's battling players, fans, the board and the press every week. Those boos were for him as well. Of course there is ambition, and backing yourself and wanting to see how far you can go. But there is peace of mind too, the satisfaction of a job very well done and a connection with a fanbase that appreciates and understands you.

Sign the contract, Marco, you know you want to.



https://werdsmith.com/p/AntzMvxEJXC7Ww

[WhiteJC]

Crystal Palace, Fulham monitoring one of Championship's 'brightest prospects' with valuation revealed ahead of January transfer window
Crystal Palace and Fulham are reportedly interested in signing Watford winger Rocco Vata.

The 20-year-old worked his way through the Celtic youth ranks before going on to make six appearances for the senior side.

Since completing a move to Watford in the summer of 2024, Vata has scored six goals and contributed six assists in 47 competitive appearances.

The attacker has registered four goal contributions in 10 Championship matches this term, although he is currently sidelined with a serious hamstring injury.

Palace, Fulham monitoring Watford attacker
While he is out for an extended period, the Daily Mail claims that Vata is still seen as one of the 'brightest prospects' in the Championship.

The report states that Crystal Palace and Fulham are among the clubs that are keeping a close eye on his progress and situation at Vicarage Road.

Vata, who has one cap under his belt for the Republic of Ireland, has also been watched by scouts from Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt and Serie A club Atalanta BC.

The player's suitors will be impressed by his versatility, having previously demonstrated that he can play on either flank, as an attacking midfielder and even as a centre-forward.

Watford will demand around £20m to consider selling a player who has a contract until the summer of 2028, with an option to extend by a further 12 months.

Why are Palace, Fulham tracking Vata?
Palace and Fulham are both believed to be scouring the market for potential attacking targets for the next two transfer windows.

The Eagles are seemingly keen to bring in attacking players who can compete with the likes of Yeremy Pino and Ismaila Sarr.

Palace boss Oliver Glasner is keen to add valuable depth to his squad as they look to balance their domestic schedule with their European obligations.

As for Fulham, Marco Silva has spoken of the importance of the January market following a disappointing summer window.

The Cottagers have a number of wide options in Samuel Chukwueze, Harry Wilson, Kevin and Adama Traore, although the latter could depart in the new year and make room for a potential new arrival.



https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/crystal-palace/transfer-talk/news/palace-fulham-monitoring-one-of-championships-brightest-prospects-with-valuation-revealed_586825.html

[WhiteJC]

Fulham's rapid start reaps the rewards at Spurs
Sammy breaks down our win at Spurs in over a decade

What a weekend that was for Fulham. A first away win of the season and a first victory at Tottenham in a dozen years. Tete's deflection and Wilson's stunner from the touchline gave the Whites a 6 minute lead both the home and travelling fans in the stadium could scarcely believe. Some way for Marco to mark game 200 of his Fulham career.



It was absolutely surreal to see Fulham race into a lead in that fashion. From the shallow away end, it was hard to work out exactly how Harry Wilson had managed to score from the sideline - an outrageous bit of skill and vision from our Welsh wizard. Obviously, it's a howler from Vicario, but I still can't quite work out why none of the Spurs defenders cover the completely empty net.

And let's be honest, we should really have been three or four ahead. We were ripping Spurs open time after time, and the brilliant Samu Chukwueze should have added a goal or two to his already scintillating performance.

The joy of Fulham's opening half hour soon turned to the fear of us somehow blowing it. The wave of Spurs attacks felt relentless and Fulham, particularly at the start of the second half, struggled to contain them. Eventually, a poor clearance from Wilson led to Mohamed Kudus getting the space to bring it back to 2-1. From there, I feared that we could be on the end of yet another away day collapse.

Marco's subs of Lukic and Smith Rowe probably should have come earlier, but the duo were definitely a case of better late than never. They each added some much needed solidity into the midfield, and helped quell the endless Spurs onslaught.

We got away with a couple of close shaves, particularly Bergvall's header from a corner which was cleared off brilliantly the line by Jimenez, but there's no doubting that all of the subs played their part in getting the result across the line.

After the match, myself and Dan took on the Quick Take, and we were a mixture of giddy and relieved. Nothing better than recording these after a big win on the road.

The 3 points moved Fulham up the table from 15th to 15th, a little bit of an underwhelming result for such a brilliant win. However, points-wise Fulham are right back in the thick of the mid-table battle, just a point or two off some of this season's darling teams who many would say have had "good" starts to the season.

In Owen McDonald's column, he waxed lyrical about many of the individual performances, and also pondered whether we could be finding form at just the right time ahead of a busy month of fixtures. He even dares to dream at the end, wondering about whether we could possibly break our horrific Manchester City run.



Then in the player ratings, George was a tough task-master with some of his scores, but Joachim Andersen won his MOTM, which actually is an under-rated shout. Chukwueze, Tete and Wilson have taken many of the plaudits, but the Dane was magnificent on Saturday, and made some crucial blocks that helped protect the three points.

Podcast is out on Monday morning if you want to re-live the fun one more time. UTF.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/p/recap-fulhams-rapid-start-reaps-the

[WhiteJC]

Pre-Man City Press Conference
Fulham face a real bogey side of ours at Craven Cottage on Tuesday night, with Manchester City heading down to SW6.

City have won the previous 18 meetings in all competitions, with our last three points against them coming under Roy Hodgson in April 2009, when Clint Dempsey's brace and a Dickson Etuhu screamer secured a 3-1 win at the Etihad.

When asked about the significance of changing that narrative, Silva said: "It's going to be very important. Very difficult side, top, top side.

"The last – probably – eight, nine, ten years, they've been almost always dominating the Premier League, with one or two seasons not winning titles, but most of the time they are competing for the first position and have been very, very, very strong.

"Almost always with the same manager all that period, and a manager that it speaks for himself everything he has done in football so far.

"And, for me, it's clear – tough game for us against a very good side, but back-to-back wins gives us the confidence that we need before these type of games.

"It's true that it's been a long time for us not getting a good result against City. Under the lights at the Cottage is always something special, against a very, very good side. Let's hope we can change it into our favour tomorrow."

Under Silva, the Club have made a habit of reversing unwanted records, and his desire to do likewise against City this week is not something that's lost on the team.

"My speech to the players at the end of the game at Tottenham's stadium, I mentioned that straightaway," he revealed.

"I congratulated them for the three points, the way we achieved the back-to-back to wins, the way we break that bad feeling about not winning away from home.

"And my last words with them was about our recent record against City, and how it's an opportunity for us to change it, and play for it.

"Every time you go inside the pitch to play a football match, our aim is to win the game, and it's not going to be different tomorrow night.

"Let's go for it – big challenge for us, a challenge that we want to face, and we want to go in a direction that gives us the conditions to fight and to take the three points."

https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2025/december/01/pre-man-city-press-conference/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham star Wilson 'feeling okay' despite injury scare
Marco Silva says Harry Wilson is "feeling okay" despite an injury scare during Fulham's win at Tottenham.

Wilson, who scored the second Fulham goal, went off in the 67th minute feeling his hamstring.

With a quick turnaround before the game against Manchester City on Tuesday, it seemed as though Wilson would be sidelined. But boss Silva believes the winger is likely to be available.

"Yesterday he was feeling okay. He was feeling well. He felt something in the game, but he felt the same against Sunderland," Silva explained on Monday morning.

"Last time we had the same situation. Of course he felt something after the match, (but) he was feeling better.

"It doesn't look like it's going to be something that is going to take him from the game. We have to assess him today again to see."

Saturday's victory was Fulham's first away win of the season.

They will host title-chasing City in good form, having won three of their past four matches – and their past two at home.



https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/fulham-star-wilson-feeling-okay-despite-injury-scare

[WhiteJC]

Fulham: Marco Silva calls for timely January reinforcements after summer transfer frustration
West Londoners were slow to back Silva in summer transfer window

Marco Silva has said he wants to conduct Fulham's January transfer business quickly, with discussions already underway with the club's board over potential signings.

Silva was left frustrated by the pace at which the Cottagers conducted their business in the summer, bringing in three new signings on Deadline Day.

Club-record signing Kevin, AC Milan winger Samuel Chukwueze, and Bayern Munich youngster Jonah Kusi-Asare have all taken time to get up to speed after arriving on the final day of the summer transfer window, and the head coach is keen to be more proactive in the January market.

Speaking ahead of Fulham's game against Manchester City on Tuesday, the Portuguese said he would not put a number on the amount of signings the club were targeting, but admitted he wanted to wrap up any potential deals in the first few days of the window.

"I don't want to put a number on it," Silva said in his pre-match press conference.

"These three, four months created a different scenario for us. Of course, we had one or two things last summer that were not possible for us to do, because we had some players in the last days of the market.

"We are working together, myself, staff and the board to see if we can do it and if we can do it quick in the first days of the market."

Fulham remain without left-back Antonee Robinson, who has suffered setbacks in his recovery from knee surgery, but Silva does not expect the club to bring in cover for the American international in January.

The 28-year-old is still some way from a return to action, but is back doing individual work on the training pitch.

"Let's see how it is going to be with Robinson, but until now, we are positive, even with this scenario, that is being very, very difficult for us and for him more than for us," Silva said.

"But we are positive that when he's going to be back, definitely and not with setbacks, because we need him, and it can be a very good signing for us in the second half of the season, let's hope."

Striker Rodrigo Muniz, meanwhile, is expected to be out until February following hamstring surgery.

The Brazilian's injury has left Fulham short of options in attack, and Silva admitted it would be difficult to replace him in the January market.

"We have this scenario of Rodrigo that creates a completely different situation in a really specific position. It is a difficult position for us," he said.

Muniz's injury has been complicated by the fact that Silva appears unwilling to put his trust in 18-year-old forward Kusi-Asare.



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/fulham-fc-january-transfers-silva-b1260578.html

[WhiteJC]

Fulham vs Manchester City, Premier League Preview, Gameweek 14, 2025
A Premier League clash with much significance; Fulham against Manchester City.

Fulham entertain Pep Guardiola's Manchester City at Craven Cottage on Tuesday night. a meeting with huge significance for both sides at this stage for different reasons.

Both sides come into this clash on the back of victories, but in very contrasting circumstances.

Fulham were victorious over Thomas Frank's Tottenham Hotspur away from home, claiming their first maximum away from Craven Cottage. They showed grit to their game as Spurs probed but a resolute backline threw their bodies on the line as they defended a lead they held for more than eighty minutes.

Manchester City scraped past Leeds United at the Etihad in an underwhelming display by Pep Guardiola's side. Two to the good and cruising, City allowed Leeds, in a fight of their own to remain in the division, to claw it back to level proceedings before Phil Foden presented them a get out of jail card with a last minute. Unconvincing, but nevertheless an important three points with all factors considered.

The Cottagers, despite their impressive victory away at Spurs on Saturday night, are still perilously close to the bottom three, so a consistent run of form which started on Saturday and would continue on Tuesday would boost Fulham ever so more.

City, on the other hand, have started to slide in both the Premier League and Champions League, highlighting the need for Guardiola to address their inconsistencies as the half-way point of the season arrives and all remains to play for. The positive thing for the Citizens is Arsenal have drawn two of their last three games, so the gap from top spot is five points and in no way insurmountable.

As the game ebbs ever important for both sides, expect a cautious approach for Fulham as Manchester City will be expected to dominate possession in order to break their counterparts down. A side that goes for the kill against City can entail their weaknesses as shown time after time this season.

With a vibrant atmosphere expected in a brisk cold in the capital, Fulham will look to lean on their crowd to sustain their energy, and City will look to silence Craven Cottage into a state of tranquility as they'll rely on commanding possession and manipulate rhythm. It's a ground that City have a good record at, but Guardiola will know that Fulham are a side who are awkward for sides who allow the tempo to drift.

    Team News

Fulham
The hosts will be without ever present left-back Antonee Robinson for this clash, as he has been plagued by a knee injury that has seen him out since September. It's a void that Ryan Sessegnon has filled with ease.

Rodrigo Muniz will likely be absent as well as he nurses a hamstring injury. The Cottagers talismanic forward played a key part of their early season points before he picked up his injury, which has seemingly derailed Fulham's season thus far.

Manchester City
Since his cruel ACL injury last season after his remarkable Ballan D'or winning campaign, Rodri has become a sick note for City consistently, with the Spaniard missing tommorow's clash.

City are also without Mateo Kovačić in their ranks as he recovers from an injury to his heel, leaving Guardiola with a prematurely depleted midfield.

    Predicted Line-Ups

Fulham: Leno; Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Sessegnon; Iwobi, Berge; Wilson, King, Kevin; Jimenez.

Manchester City: Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O'Reilly; Silva, Gonzales, Reijnders; Doku, Haaland, Foden.

    Player to Watch

Harry Wilson (Fulham)
Harry Wilson is a key figurehead for Fulham and sparks attacking threat throughout.

The Welshmen is dynamic and creative, leaving no dilemma for Marco Silva to pick him. A blend of sharp ball carrying, an incisive left-foot and the capacity to decide games with moments of individual brilliance shaped Fulham better going forward, far more than anyone else in their side.

Phil Foden (Manchester City)
Two goals in his last match to earn City a maximum in a game they scarcely imposed themselves in, Foden's presence will be crucial for City.

Foden is a player who can take the game by the scuff of the neck if needed and has revolutionised himself into City's ranks as a first on the team sheet. A deep block defence is what you'd expect Fulham to set up with, a player with Foden's footballing intelligence can break it down.

    Match Details

Competition: Premier League

Venue: Craven Cottage, London

Date & Kick-off: Tuesday, December 2nd, 7:30pm



https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2025/12/01/premier-league/1243229-fulham-vs-manchester-city-premier-league-preview-gameweek-14-2025.html

[WhiteJC]

Games for mid-week 03/12...
We welcome Man City for a game under the lights for an 8 o'clock kick off

Getting an away win against Spurs has got to give the players a huge boost of confidence! For the first half an hour we were unplayable and if we'd have been 3 or 4 up it wouldn't have been unfair.
Chukwueze was tremendous, if his shot that hit the post had gone in it would have topped off an excellent performance.
Wilson's skill for his goal was a joy to watch, King's perfect lay off and the precision to kick the ball in the centre of the goal was perfection.
We had to hang on in the second half but we managed to even though I'm sure every Fulham fan were on the edge of their seat

In their last six games City have won 4 and lost 2 against Newcastle and Villa, both away games.

Our record, for the previous 8 games against City, is dreadful even though we've played well we've come away with 0 wins and 8 losses, it's time we changed that.

My team would be...



COYW's

Games of Interest
Tuesday 03/12
Fulham v Man City

Wednesday 04/12
Arsenal v Brentford
Burnley v Palace
Wolves v Forest
Leeds v Chelsea
come on over to the forum and join in the conversation...
https://www.friendsoffulham.com/forum/index.php?board=36.0



https://www.friendsoffulham.com/wordpress/?p=3305

[WhiteJC]

Matchday Preview: Man City
🆚 Manchester City
🏟 Craven Cottage
🏆 Premier League
🗓 Tuesday 2nd December
⏰ 7.30pm

The opposition

Four Premier League defeats by the end of November may be disappointing by the standards Manchester City have generally set under Pep Guardiola, but they're still very much in the title hunt, sitting just five points behind leaders Arsenal in second place. Prior to the weekend, they had been enduring a sticky patch of form, losing to Newcastle United and Bayer Leverkusen in the space of four days, but Phil Foden's stoppage time goal secured victory on Saturday against a Leeds United side who had fought back from two down.

Team news

🤍 Harry Wilson felt something in his hamstring on Saturday night, but Marco Silva expects to have the winger available to face City. Antonee Robinson and Rodrigo Muniz continue to miss out.

🔵 Central midfielders Rodri and Mateo Kovacic will be absent for City.

Tickets

Tickets remain available to purchase.

Kits

Fulham will be in all white, with City in all black.

Weather

🌧 There is a small chance of rain by the time we kick-off, but temperatures will still be around eight degrees.

Lime/Forest bikes

If you use a hire bike to get to the stadium, we kindly request that it is left at a new designated zone which can be found at the junction of Woodlawn Road and Langthorne Street.

Arrive early

Until 6.30pm, all pints of beer, cider & cans of wine will be priced at just £5, with soft drinks available for just £2, as part of our early bird drinks offers.

Forever Fulham

Stan Horne, both Fulham and City's first ever black player, will receive the Forever Fulham award at half-time.

Johnny Haynes Stand update

Ticket holders in the Johnny Haynes Stand are advised of several food & beverage changes. Our Drinks Fast Lane will now be available from JH4, with Camden Pale a new option in JH2 and JH3, while Kopparberg Crisp Apple cider is available throughout the stand. Food is no longer available in JH2 and JH3, but hot dogs will be available in JH1, in addition to hot dogs & pies being offered by our roaming hawkers.

Bag drop

Fans are reminded of our bag drop policy that is in place.



Fulham Flutter

The Fulham Flutter allows fans from across the UK to go into the running to win some unique Fulham prizes. Fans can purchase a season ticket to be automatically entered into every home draw or buy tickets on a match-by-match basis, with the winner of our top prize announced on the big screen at half-time of the match.

Coverage

The game will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, while FFCtv subscribers can listen to commentary from Gentleman Jim and Jamie Reid. Overseas supporters can see who is showing the game in your region at this page.

Our community

Craven Cottage has been home to Fulham Football Club since 1894, and an integral part of the SW6 neighbourhood for well over a century.

We kindly ask supporters, and all visitors, attending games and visiting the ground on non-matchdays, to be respectful of the residential area and our neighbours when arriving at and leaving our historic home.

Craven Cottage exudes the quaintness and character befitting of London's Original Football Club, charmingly situated on the banks of the River Thames and close to hundreds of households within its immediate locality.

We kindly ask that fans and visitors are respectful and considerate to our neighbours and community at all times.

Programme

Fulham supporters have always admired Alex Iwobi for his work rate – the relentlessness, the pressing, the willingness to run. It wasn't always that way, he says, but his development across contrasting football cultures has made him the engine he is today.

"It's definitely something I've developed over time," he tells the official matchday programme for the visit of Manchester City. "Don't get me wrong, as a kid I was always able to run. I always had a lot of energy when I was in school. The teachers used to say I was like a Duracell battery.

"But I learnt a lot when I was at Everton. The culture was very different to Arsenal. At Everton, it was about tackles and heading and basically just fighting for every ball. Now that I'm at Fulham, it's like a mixture of both Arsenal and Everton. You have to work hard off the ball as well as on it here."

Elsewhere in the 104-page publication, Marco Silva, Tom Cairney and Robert Wilson pen their regular columns, while Saša Lukić lifts the lid on his teammates.

We also catch up with Terry Angus for the next instalment of our Cult Heroes series and Stan Horne looks back on his time with the Club ahead of receiving the Forever Fulham award.

The programme will be on sale around the ground on Tuesday priced £4. Alternatively, you can pick up a copy online.

https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2025/december/01/matchday-preview-man-city/

[WhiteJC]

Guardiola expects a difficult encounter at Fulham
Pep Guardiola praised Fulham boss Marco Silva and says his sides are always difficult to break down.

City head to Craven Cottage on Tuesday night for a 19:30 (UK) kick-off where a win would see us close the gap at the top of the Premier League to two points for 24 hours at least.

But Fulham go into the game on the back of an impressive 2-1 victory at Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend while they have only been beaten at home once this season.

The City boss is expecting another tough game and says the Cottagers are improving each year under the guidance of Silva.

"Marco has been there many years there and always it has been a really tough game," Guardiola said in his prematch news conference.

"[It will be] difficult. The organisation is exceptional and every year with the ball they're even better.

"A tough, tough opponent, I saw their games against Chelsea, Arsenal and Sunderland and always it's so difficult for the opponent to break them up.

"Always it has been in this beautiful stadium in London."

Guardiola confirmed that Rodri will not be available for the trip to London and says he does not know if he will come into consideration for Saturday's game with Sunderland.

Meanwhile, Bernardo Silva and Gianluigi Donnarumma are one game away from suspension after picking up four yellow cards this season.

The Italian keeper was booked in Saturday's 3-2 victory over Leeds and asked about his record, Guardiola added: "Yeah he has a lot. He has many. It is what it is."



https://www.mancity.com/news/mens/pep-guardiola-fulham-2-dec-written-preview-63900186

[WhiteJC]

Match Officials: Craig Pawson to referee Fulham vs Manchester City
Craig Pawson has been appointed into the role of match referee for the clash between Fulham and Manchester City in the Premier League in midweek.

Pep Guardiola will be hoping for a far more routine route to three points this time out having seen his players throw away a two-goal half-time lead at the Etihad Stadium to rescue the win against Leeds United thanks to a 91st minute winner from Phil Foden.

The Englishman and Josko Gvardiol had put Manchester City ahead by the half-time break before a tactical switch from Daniel Farke brought his side level thanks to goals from Dominic Calvert-Lewin and a strike from the penalty spot via Lukas Nmecha.

With Arsenal having dropped points to Chelsea on Sunday afternoon, City find themselves in second position heading into the midweek gameweek, five points adrift of Mikel Arteta's squad at the summit of the Premier League table.

Fulham will be no simple affair for Manchester City however, having often faced difficulties at Craven Cottage with Marco Silva's side coming into this one off the back of successive wins at home to Sunderland and away to Tottenham at the weekend.

Ahead of the meeting between Fulham and Manchester City, the Premier League have now announced the list of match officials to oversee proceedings at Craven Cottage!

Match Referee
The Premier League have confirmed that the experienced Craig Pawson will oversee proceedings between Fulham and Manchester City from the role of match referee on the field at Craven Cottage on Tuesday night.

The 46-year-old South Yorkshire-born official has so far officiated 10 matches across all competitions this campaign, eight of which have come in the Premier League and the other two in the Carabao Cup.

In those contests, Pawson has issued a total of 23 yellow cards and two straight red cards, having also awarded two penalty kicks in the process.

Across his career, Craig Pawson has overseen a total of 29 matches involving City, 20 of which have seen the Sky Blues emerge victorious, four ending in a draw, and five resulting in defeats. Pawson has never issued a red card in a match involving City, but has awarded nine penalties.

The last game to see Pawson referee Manchester City came towards the end of last season when Pep Guardiola's side overcame the challenge of Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium in a 2-1 win for the hosts.

Pawson was however the Video Assistant Referee for Manchester City's 2-1 defeat against Newcastle United at St James' Park last month, which ended with controversy over a penalty kick waived away against the visitors as well as a late winner deemed onside.

Assistant Referees
Accompanying Craig Pawson on the pitch at Craven Cottage this week will be an assistant referee pairing of Lee Betts and Matt Wilkes, the Premier League have confirmed.

Video Assistant Referees
Overseeing Fulham against Manchester City from the VAR Hub at Stockley Park will be Video Assistant Referee Paul Howard, accompanied by Assistant Video Assistant Referee Adam Nunn.

Fourth Official
Standing between the two dugouts and managing affairs between Marco Silva and Pep Guardiola's Fulham and Manchester City benches will be the appointed fourth official Tony Harrington, the Premier League have confirmed.



https://cityxtra.co.uk/37892/match-officials-craig-pawson-to-referee-fulham-vs-manchester-city/

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Board election 2025 – update
Independent Scruitineer Marisa Cardoni's report presented to our AGM on 20 November announced the need for a ballot following the receipt of three valid nominations for two board positions. The ballot commenced on 22 November as planned.

The Trust Board subsequently received an update from Marisa informing us that one candidate had withdrawn their nomination during the ballotting period. As this left only two candidates for the two available positions on the board, Marisa recommended that the ongoing ballot be halted and that the two remaining candidates be elected for terms of three years.

The Trust Board supported this recommendation, the online election was stopped on 28 November and the electorate was informed. You can read the full text of the Independent Scrutineer report here and also, as required by our election policy, the statements of each of the successful candidates are now available to view here.

We are therefore very pleased to welcome Roger Southgate to the board alongside Simon Duke who has been re-elected and express our grateful thanks to Gavin Megaw who stood down at this election after five years of excellent service.

Finally, we would like to thank Marisa for overseeing an efficient election process for us again this year and to all members who participated.

Steve Nicholson
Secretary



https://www.fulhamsupporterstrust.com/news/2025/12/board-election-2025-update/

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PREVIEW: Fulham look to continue positive home form against unpredictable Manchester City
The Cottagers will look to exploit their opponents' current inconsistency.

After a international break lauded with speculation around Fulham's performances and the future of manager Marco Silva, the West Londoners have returned with a bang. Victories over Sunderland and a fantastic win away at Tottenham Hotspur have seen the Cottagers put some daylight between themselves and the bottom three after serious concerns about a relegation battle were touted just last month.

Despite their broad struggles and low position in the league table, their home form has been a bright spark of an otherwise challenging start to the season: the Cottagers have lost only once in seven Craven Cottage games this season.

A strong performance against Spurs will see the Cottagers head into the game against one of the Premier League's biggest sides with some confidence – though their opponents in question aren't quite at their best.

Manchester City have been in an inconsistent run of form as of late. Their defeat away at St. James' Park was followed by a 2-0 home defeat in the Champions League against Bayer Leverkusen. They did bounce back with a win at the weekend at home to 18th placed Leeds, but they had to wait until the 91st minute to find a winner after Leeds clawed back a two-goal deficit much to the bemusement of the Manchester City faithful. The victory spelled another goalless game for striker Erling Haaland and for a striker of such quality, three games without a goal is highly unusual.

His difficulties in front of goal have coincided with a spike in form from Phil Foden who has netted three times in the last two Premier League games. His return to the form we all saw in abundance a few seasons ago has come at a crucial time as City's reliance on Haaland had been questioned.

Fulham will once again be without full-back Antonee Robinson who remains side-lined with a knee injury. He is joined on the treatment table by Rodrigo Muniz. Fulham winger Samuel Chukwueze produced a stellar display against Spurs and came away with an assist so is expected to be deployed in the wide position again. The experienced Alex Iwobi should continue once again in midfield as Silva isn't expected to ring in the changes.

Manchester City are once again without Mateo Kovačić who is yet to start for the Citizens this season, they are also without Ballon d'Or winner Rodri, whose return to action has been delayed due to continued fitness concerns.

Elsewhere, Pep Guardiola may opt for a defensive duo of Rúben Dias and Joško Gvardiol with Nico O'Reilly and Matheus Nunes likely to be deployed once again in the full back roles.

Predicted line-ups

FUL: Leno; Tete, Anderson, Bassey, Sessegnon; Iwobi, Berge; Wilson, King, Chukwueze; Jiménez

MCI: Donnarumma; Nunes, Gvardiol, Dias, O'Reilly; Silva, González; Foden, Cherki, Doku; Haaland



https://fromthespot.co.uk/24356/preview-fulham-look-to-continue-positive-home-form-against-unpredictable-manchester-city/

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Cherki To Start, Reijnders On The Bench | 4-3-3 Manchester City Predicted Lineup Vs Fulham
Manchester City will clash heads with Fulham at Craven Cottage this Tuesday night as they look to secure all three points on the road in the Premier League. The Mancunian giants managed to earn a hard-fought 3-2 win over Leeds United recently, which should keep them in good spirits going into this game.

Pep Guardiola will set his side up in a 4-3-3 formation and is expected to make one tweak to his first XI for this clash. Rayan Cherki could get a chance to impress from the start of this game, while Tijjani Reijnders makes way for him and drops to the bench.

4-3-3 Manchester City Predicted Lineup To Face Fulham

Defence
Gianluigi Donnarumma will feature in between the sticks for the Mancunian side after conceding two goals in his last outing. Ruben Dias will function alongside Josko Gvardiol at the centre of the Man City backline as they try to keep things solid on the defensive end of the field.

Matheus Nunes will continue to play as the right-back, while Nico O'Reilly hopes to prove his worth on the other side as the left-back. Both of them will get the freedom to go forward and express themselves in the Fulham half.

John Stones and Nathan Ake will offer cover for the defensive positions on the bench.

Midfield
Bernardo Silva, Nico Gonzalez and Phil Foden could make up Man City's midfield this week. The talented trio would have to retain possession well at the centre of the park and engineer some decent chances in the final third.

Tijjani Reijnders will have to settle for a place on the bench as he waits for his chance to influence the game in the second 45 minutes if needed.

Attack
Jeremy Doku will hope to give a good account of himself on the left flank, while Rayan Cherki looks to catch the eye on the right wing. Both of them would be instructed to get in behind the Fulham backline at every chance they get.

Erling Haaland will lead the line for Man City up top. He would be eager to find the back of the net after going scoreless versus Leeds United last weekend.

Savinho and Omar Marmoush will be named on the bench and might come on to make an impact in the latter stages of the game if required.



https://the4thofficial.net/2025/12/cherki-to-start-reijnders-on-the-bench-4-3-3-manchester-city-predicted-lineup-vs-fulham/

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Manchester City Manager Pep Guardiola's Salary vs His Next Opponent Shows Massive League Disparity
Pep Guardiola's Manchester City have always been a team prone to winning plenty of silverware since the Catalonia-born tactician arrived in England in the summer of 2016. The 2025/26 season was an anomaly, though, and Erling Haaland-led side will have winning trophies at the top of their priority list. Next up, they face Fulham.

The Cottagers, unlike their upcoming opponents, have never won a major trophy and that, of course, includes the Premier League. Under the stewardship of Marco Silva, though, they have asserted themselves as a team capable of punching above their weight and causing the odd upset. Can they do the same on Tuesday evening?

Fresh off the back of their 2-1 triumph over Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, the capital club will be looking to extend their winning streak to three on the bounce and City, after Phil Foden's brilliance against Leeds United, will also be in the pursuit of another victory. And when looking at the respective salaries of each side's manager, there's a clear winner.

Pep Guardiola's Salary
In truth, it's hard to pinpoint another manager that has been as imperious as Guardiola since Sir Alex Ferugon's retirement in 2013 – and his net worth currently stands at £40.2 million. A six-time winner of the Premier League, the 54-year-old is widely regarded (and for good reason, too!) as one of the greatest managers in Premier League history.

And with that comes a handsome pay packet. Guardiola earns £20 million per year and is among the highest-paid managers in the beautiful game – and his squad is befitting of such an imperious boss. In fact, only Simone Inzaghi and Diego Simeone are paid more.

Not only does midfielder-turned-manager Guardiola boast the likes of Haaland and Foden, but his squad (from head to toe) is star-studded with some of the best players in the division. Haaland tops their highest-earners on £26 million per year and the Norwegian talisman is joined by the likes of Bernardo Silva, Omar Marmoush and John Stones.

In truth, it's hard to pinpoint another manager that has been as imperious as Guardiola since Sir Alex Ferugon's retirement in 2013 – and his net worth currently stands at £40.2 million. A six-time winner of the Premier League, the 54-year-old is widely regarded (and for good reason, too!) as one of the greatest managers in Premier League history.

And with that comes a handsome pay packet. Guardiola earns £20 million per year and is among the highest-paid managers in the beautiful game – and his squad is befitting of such an imperious boss. In fact, only Simone Inzaghi and Diego Simeone are paid more.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Doing so in 344 matches, Pep Guardiola recently became the fastest manager to reach 250 Premier League wins.

Not only does midfielder-turned-manager Guardiola boast the likes of Haaland and Foden, but his squad (from head to toe) is star-studded with some of the best players in the division. Haaland tops their highest-earners on £26 million per year and the Norwegian talisman is joined by the likes of Bernardo Silva, Omar Marmoush and John Stones.

When you take into consideration the combination that Guradiola has such a well-paid squad at his disposal and that he – compared to his 19 Premier League counterparts – is paid the most, victories and silverware should naturally follow. But how does his net worth and annual wage compare to Silva?

Pep Guardiola's Salary

Annual Wage	£20 million
Net Worth	£40.2 million
Contract Signed	21/11/2024
Contract Expiration	30/06/2027

Marco Silva's Salary
In charge of Fulham since the summer of 2021, Silva was previously the manager of Estoril and Sporting CP in his homeland – and it's safe to say that his annual salary jumped up tenfold when he moved to England's top flight. In fact, the Portuguese earns £4 million per year and his net worth stands at £15 million, which is half of Guardiola's.

Despite earning five times less than the ex-Bayern Munich and Barcelona custodian, Silva is still on bigger wages than nine other Premier League managers – and that includes Nottingham Forest's Sean Dyche and Oliver Glasner of Crystal Palace.

After being relegated in 2020/21, Fulham spent one season in England's second tier before returning to the promised land and 48-year-old Silva has been paramount in turning them into a side capable of upsetting the apple cart.

At the time of writing, his current side are sitting 15th in the Premier League – which is below their finishes in the three previous seasons – but they are more than up to the task of facing City. Settled as a team in mid-table obscurity, they have a squad that pockets a collective annual salary of £71.5 million with Bernd Leno being their highest-earner.

The ever-reliable German goalkeeper earns an annual wage of £6,800,000 with Raul Jimenez, Joachim Andersen, Alex Iwobi and Samuel Chukwueze behind the ex-Arsenal glovesman. The biggest testament to Silva and his entourage is the fact they can compete with a wage bill that is dwarfed by the likes of City and others in the Premier League.

Marco Silva's Salary

Annual Wage	£4 million
Net Worth	£15 million
Contract Signed	24/10/2023
Contract Expiration	30/06/2026

https://www.givemesport.com/pep-guardiola-wages-man-city-vs-marco-silva-fulham-salary/

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Everton Are Targeting This Fulham Star In January: Will He Be A Good Signing?
The 4-1 home defeat to Newcastle United on Saturday acted as a wake-up call for David Moyes, according to reports. Everton sit 14th in the Premier League, just four points away from the European spots. However, Moyes believes he needs reinforcements in January to achieve his goals and plans to request financial backing from the Friedkin Group.

The 4-1 home defeat to Newcastle United on Saturday acted as a wake-up call for David Moyes, according to reports. Everton sit 14th in the Premier League, just four points away from the European spots. However, Moyes believes he needs reinforcements in January to achieve his goals and plans to request financial backing from the Friedkin Group.

Everton are targeting Antonee Robinson of Fulham
He impressed at Wigan, and Fulham signed him for £2 million in 2020. The United States international has since played 193 games and built a strong reputation, with past links to Liverpool and Manchester City.

He has played only three Premier League matches this season due to a knee injury, but Everton are still considering a January move. Nixon suggests that a £25 million offer might convince Fulham, although Robinson's contract runs until 2028, which could push the price higher.

Will he be a good fit for David Moyes' system?
Currently, Vitaliy Mykolenko holds the left-back spot more because of limited competition than strong performances. 19-year-old Adam Aznou, signed from Bayern Munich, has yet to make his Premier League debut and looks like a long-term option.

If Robinson returns to full fitness, he will compete directly with Mykolenko and could start regularly before the United States' World Cup campaign next year. Robinson would likely be a great signing for Everton. He is a fast, hard-working full-back who contributes both in attack and defence, and his history with the club makes a potential return even more appealing.



https://the4thofficial.net/2025/12/everton-are-targeting-this-fulham-star-in-january-will-he-be-a-good-signing/

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Marco Silva has 'no doubts' that Fulham star will stay in January after failed summer transfer
Winger was moments away from a Craven Cottage exit

Marco Silva has said he has no doubts that Harry Wilson will stay at Fulham at least until the end of the season.

Wilson, who is out of contract next summer, saw a Deadline Day move to Leeds United fall apart at the 11th hour, and he is expected to be the subject of interest during the January transfer window.

The 28-year-old remains in negotiations over extending his stay at Craven Cottage, and Silva has said he is not concerned about the Welshman's future.

"I don't have any doubt right now that Wilson is going to be with us until the end of the season, at least. Let's hope for more," Silva said in his post-match press conference on Monday.

Asked whether there had been any update in negotiations between Wilson and the club, Silva said that while talks were continuing, it would not disrupt the west Londoners' season.

"No, I don't have any update," Silva, who celebrated his 200th game in charge of the club over the weekend, continued.

"Of course, when I have any feedback from the board, we [will] say something. Till now, no updates and I keep saying the same.

"Harry is very focused on his season, not just on our football club. With his country as well, the way he's performing there, the way he's performing with us. A top professional is not going to disrupt his season at all.

"Of course, we want [the contract] to be sorted in a different way and quicker. Sometimes it's not so easy.

"The right people are speaking to each other. If something comes new, we are going to announce [it]."

Wilson, who joined Fulham in 2021, scored the first goal of Silva's reign, helping them secure promotion back to the Premier League in his first season at the club.

The former Liverpool man has been in and out of the side since Fulham's promotion, but has been in fine form this season, netting his third goal of the campaign during their 2-1 win over Tottenham last weekend.

Silva admitted that he had hoped to have Wilson tied down to a new contract at the end of last season, but said he was confident the winger would commit his future to the west Londoners.

"We wanted it [a new contract] at the end of last season or we wanted it last summer as well, and it didn't happen.

"About what happened [Leeds' interest] last summer. To be honest with you, I never put in doubt that Harry was going to be with us.

"Of course, sometimes you get surprised with some offers that come or don't. I'm not saying that we received any offer for him until the last day of the [window].

"We had a game before the last days of the market. After the international break and after that game, I didn't have any doubt that Harry was going to be our player."



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/fulham-fc-wilson-transfer-silva-b1260631.html

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Manchester City vs. Fulham: Preview & More
A tough match up down south.

Manchester City visit a truly tough Fulham side in a classic Premier League clash, a fun match up in this era and this one is sure to excite.

The Premier League is off to the races and City look to have a great holiday season.

Venue: Craven Cottage, London, England

Time and Date: Premier League: Tuesday 2 December 2025, Kickoff at 19:30 GMT, 2:30pm EST USA

Referee: Craig Pawson

Assistants: Lee Betts, Mat Wilkes

Fourth official: Tony Harrington

VAR: Paul Howard

TV Info: SKY SPORTS (UK), Peacock/USA Network/Universo (USA), DAZN (Canada), Hotstar VIP (India), Paramount+ (Mexico), SuperSport (Nigeria)

***STREAM THE GAME LIVE, FUBO TV (USA) shows every Manchester City game on USA NETWORK/NBC with a high-quality and legal stream. New to Fubo TV? Click here

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Preview + Form

A tricky match up for the club as they are off a gutsy showing in the league, earning a win at home. They need the win and all three points and facing a tough challenge in this Fulham side, this could be a great opportunity.

It will be a tough match, but one has to back City with Haaland on form and Foden playing really well.

The key battle will be the midfielders chosen. An interesting match up is in tow. Who will play?

Which team will come out in front?

Previous Meeting

    Last time the two sides met, we came out on top with a 2-0 win over the Cottagers.

    Ilkay Gundogan saw us ahead after 21 minutes, before Erling Haaland's 72nd minute penalty sealed the game in our favour.

Pep Guardiola Preview

Marco has been there many years there and always it has been a really tough game," Guardiola said in his prematch news conference.

"[It will be] difficult. The organisation is exceptional and every year with the ball they're even better.

"A tough, tough opponent, I saw their games against Chelsea, Arsenal and Sunderland and always it's so difficult for the opponent to break them up.

Team News

City's side have an unavailable/questionable list of Kovacic and Rodri who are out or doubtful.

Fulham have Robinson and Muniz are out or doubtful.

Prediction

Manchester City 2-2 Fulham




https://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/manchester-city-premier-league/36208/manchester-city-vs-fulham-preview-more

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Joining fellow Super Eagle Alex Iwobi at Fulham has erased Samuel Chukwueze's AC Milan failure
While Mohammed Kudus signed for Tottenham Hotspur in a high-profile £55 million switch from West Ham United during the offseason, Samuel Chukwueze's arrival at Fulham went comparatively under the radar.

Both made big contributions in this weekend's London derby at the Tottenham Stadium, as Fulham -- thanks to an early flurry -- defeated their capital rivals 2-1. Chukwueze's assist for Kenny Tete after four minutes set the Cottagers on their way, while Kudus added his second of the season just before the hour mark to at least give the hosts hope.

The opener owed a lot to the Nigerian's trickery, invention and pace, as he flummoxed Archie Gray and Pedro Porro with his fine footwork down Fulham's left before sending in a cross for the advancing Tete to fire home via a deflection off Destiny Udogie.

Harry Wilson added another for the visitors two minutes later, to the chagrin of the home supporters, although Kudus at least threatened to reinvigorate the Lilywhites. Receiving a Lucas Bergvall ball wide on the right, he turned towards goal, and lashed a left-footed shot into the roof of the Fulham goal beyond Bernd Leno.

Chukwueze, relishing the first Premier League start of his career, also hit the woodwork, another highlight of a true 'arrival' in the world's greatest league.

No Fulham player created more goalscoring opportunities during the course of the contest than Chukwueze, while no one on the pitch completed more successful dribbles than the Super Eagles winger.

Marco Silva deserves credit for deploying the winger in an unfamiliar role on the left-hand side, where his desire to cut on his right foot and tear at goal struck fear into Spurs hearts.

Following on from his decisive assist against Fulham last weekend -- a late moment of inspiration to set up Raúl Jiménez for the winner -- Chukwueze has finally regained a measure of momentum again in a career that has threatened to run out of steam.

Still only 26, this is the first time the winger has registered direct goal contributions in consecutive matches since October 2024, with the wideman increasingly losing his sense of direction at parent club AC Milan.

Certainly, while Kudus must still prove that he's worth Spurs' outlay for his services, and that he can transform his eye-catching West Ham individualism to more rarefied climes, Chukwueze has a major point to prove this season.

Moving to AC Milan from Villarreal for €20 million in July 2023 represented a significant step up for the youngster. In truth, his time in Italy was not an unbridled success. Given the fee, the expectations, and Chukwueze's promise, a contribution of four goals and five assists across two Serie A campaigns is a poor return.

Admittedly, the winger never truly had the trust of Milan's head coaches over the last two seasons -- making just 21 league starts since his arrival -- with hamstring and thigh injuries leading to frequent spells on the sidelines while preventing him from consistently establishing himself in the Rossoneri's starting XI.

Consistency of availability naturally bled into consistency of performance, a Chukwueze characteristic that was hardly a strength for the youngster while in La Liga, with last season's month absence for the Africa Cup of Nations another contributing factor.

The context at the club, where Stefano Pioli, Paulo Fonseca, Sergio Conceicao and Massimiliano Allegri all held the reins between Chukwueze's arrival and his loan move to Fulham, has hardly helped, with the West African having to adapt to different styles, varied approaches on the training round and the general drift of transition during these challenging years.

Regardless of the head coaches, there's a sense that his playing style was never a perfect fit for Italian football either, with Chukwueze struggling to find the space he needed to operate, and lacking the subtly or creativity in the final third to prise open more dogged defences.

Once upon a time, he was one of the most eye-catching wingers in Spain, while his five goal contributions in 11 Europa League games in 2020-21 -- en route to the title -- set him apart as one of the bright prospects to watch across Europe's major leagues.

"Samuel Chukwueze's time in Milan has not been very consistent," Nigeria legend Mutiu Adepoju said earlier this year. "He needs to work harder because if you leave Milan and go somewhere else and still have the same level of performance, that would be a huge mistake.

"He needs to work more so that he can get into the team and play consistently, and from there, his career will go up."

It was a sentiment shared by Chukwueze himself, who acknowledged during the summer that he'd failed to live up to his own standards during his second campaign in Lombardy.

"Last season is something we don't really want to talk about," he began, as per Tribuna.

"It was a bad season for the Milan fans and for everyone involved. Honestly, it's one of the worst seasons of my professional career."

Fulham have been willing to take gambles on talents in danger of losing their way or rejected elsewhere in recent years, with the likes of Emile Smith Rowe, Ryan Sessegnon, Raul Jimenez, Andreas Pereira and Leno each enjoying a new lease of life on the banks of the Thames.

Then there's Alex Iwobi, Chukwueze's international teammate, and the nephew of the winger's childhood idol - Jay-Jay Okocha - who enjoyed the best season of his career under Marco Silva last season, scoring nine and registering a further six assists.

In the aftermath of Chukwueze's performance against Spurs - a showing that earned him a first PL Man of the Match award - Iwobi was quick to heap praise onto his compatriot.

"He is energetic on and off the pitch," the ex-Everton man told Sky Sports. "We are happy to have him. You can see the magic he does on the field. He's a great addition to the club. We want to give him the confidence and the license to enjoy football.

"'Chukwu-magic' - that's his nickname on the training field," Iwobi added. "He's able to do it in training, he's able to do it in matches. As long as he remains consistent, that's the main thing for him."

Chukwueze couldn't contain his joy after the match, appearing a player rejuvenated and revived as the confidence that steadily evaporated during those years in Italy seeps back into his system.

"I love [the nickname]," he responded. "As long as it's working, I love it.

"I wasn't expecting [to start] today, but I've been training hard, been focused, the last months have been difficult but I keep my head down, keep working, and today I took the opportunity.

"[Iwobi] and Calvin [Bassey] are the ones who always pushed me more in training," he added. "It works, telling me 'keep your head down, keep working, it's going to come', so it motivates me a lot."

Consistency, as Iwobi noted, is clearly the big question mark hanging over Chukwueze over the coming months; can he remain fit, can he make a sustained impact in the Prem, and to what extent will the AFCON absence impact his ability to establish himself at Craven Cottage?



https://www.espn.co.uk/espn/story/_/id/47174244/joining-fellow-super-eagle-alex-iwobi-fulham-erased-samuel-chukwueze-ac-milan-failure

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Fulham boss Marco Silva opens door for Leeds United to sign Harry Wilson
Leeds United fans were left gutted and worried for the rest of the season when the Whites failed to get a deal over the line for Fulham and Wales playmaker Harry Wilson.

Many saw Wilson as the answer to Leeds' problems. A creative player that can play anywhere in the final third, one who has that bit of proven Premier League magic and is exceptional from dead-ball situations.

But Fulham pulled the plug on a deal for Wilson. The Cottagers wanted Kevin, Samuel Chukwueze and Tyrique George signed on deadline day, but they only managed to bring in Kevin and Chukwueze on loan.

George has remained at Chelsea, and that saw Silva block a deal even though Wilson wanted to move to Leeds. But hope remains, with Wilson still out of contract next summer and Silva has given an update.

Marco Silva opens door with Harry Wilson future still unclear
Silva has made it clear he would like to keep the former Liverpool star, and has urged the club to tie down a new contract with Wilson. But nothing has materialised, and this week, Silva was asked about Wilson.

The former Everton and Watford manager admitted that there was nothing new to report and with the January window approaching, Wilson is still available if the Cottagers want to avoid losing him on a free.

"I don't have any update. These type of things, when we have something new, it's like the others as well. When I'm going to have any feedback from the board, we are going to say something to you," he said.

What are Leeds United's chances of signing Harry Wilson?
While Wilson's contract remains an issue at Fulham and to that end, he could become available in the winter window if the Fulham owners want to avoid losing him on a free. Leeds would surely make a bid.

But there are issues. Fulham would probably only receive a small-ish fee given Wilson's situation and may just bite the bullet and keep him until the summer. Then there is the issue of Fulham sitting in 15th place.

They are fighting to avoid being drawn into a relegation battle and allowing Wilson to join a direct rival in Leeds would come back to haunt them if Leeds stayed up. Sky Sports' Rob Dorsett says a deal is unlikely.

It could depend on Wilson. It may come down to what Wilson wants to do and with a World Cup on the horizon, he will want to be playing regular football, starting every week. Leeds gives him that chance.

Certainly, a move to Leeds would see Wilson link up with some of his Wales teammates in the likes of Joe Rodon, Dan James, Ethan Ampadu and Karl Darlow. That will certainly make it tempting for the attacker.



https://www.leedsunited.news/transfers/fulham-boss-marco-silva-opens-door-for-leeds-united-to-sign-harry-wilson/