Saturday Fulham Stuff - 22/10/22...

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Jesse Marsch must refocus Leeds United minds onto Fulham after a mental battering at Leicester City
The unforgiving nature of the Premier League was rammed home once again to Jesse Marsch on Thursday.

Marsch's trip to Leicester City, where he began his adventure as Leeds United coach, was bruising to put it mildly but the board have decided it will not be where it ends.

The American therefore has to dust himself down, clear his mind and prepare his players for a game at home to Fulham on Sunday which will be even more crucial to him than the club.

On Thursday night, Marsch got battered from all directions. Most damagingly from the away end, where fans questioned what he was doing and, as his players came over to thank them at full-time without him, where he was. The most pointed chant was simply "Marcelo Bielsa".

Leeds lost 2-0 to a side who only had one shot on target all night. Robin Koch's own goal summed up a capacity for shooting themselves in the foot but their shooting at Danny Ward's goal was just as bad.

They had 13 efforts, but when ex-Huddersfield Town goalkeeper Ward comfortably saved a routine one from Mateusz Klich in stoppage time, the away fans sang "Du du du du... shot on target!"

It was only their second. And last.

Next came television, radio, then newspaper interviews inevitably centred on Marsch's job prospects. As he spoke, Aston Villa sacked Steven Gerrard. Villa are level on points with Leeds.

To kick a man when he was down, the post-match press conference ended and a pre-match one started.

The idea was to save Marsch having to speak to the media again on Friday by previewing Fulham's visit before heading home.

That his mind had already turned to the Cottagers had been Marsch's weak excuse for not acknowledging the fans but still he reflected – as always, with a smile – "This is a brutal task."

For Premier League clubs not in Europe, three-match weeks are rare, making them tougher when momentum swings the wrong way. Marsch's task is getting his players' minds solely on winning on Sunday.

"It's about shaping them to be ready and understanding we have to stop the bleeding," said Marsch, regurgitating his buzz phrase of the evening. "What can I say to them after this match? Everyone's crushed.

"I have to keep them strong and believing in what we're doing.

"I'm trying to analyse everything without over-analysing. That's they key or you get stuck in a circle.

"We have to first see physically where guys are at and make sure we've got a team on the pitch ready to play at the highest level; we've got to evaluate tactically what we want out of the game. Then we've got to put a group on the pitch that's going to invest everything they can to get a really important result."

The pressure is nothing new. Marsch, sacked by Leipzig shortly before last Christmas, has managed in the Champions League, so is well used to quick turnarounds – "That part's okay." He dragged Leeds out of the relegation mire once already this year, taking charge of a sinking ship after Bielsa's February firing.

"We need to use the pressure to motivate us and be clear," he said. "The clarity of what exactly the game will need will be the most important thing. I know they'll be ready to run and fight, it's just making sure they do it in a way that helps us win."

Is this the toughest moment of his managerial career he was asked, as under-pressure coaches routinely are in these situations?

"For me? Yeah, probably pretty tough," replied Marsch, who hopes to have Pascal Struijk back from injury. "But I knew coming to Leeds United would be difficult. Building it up to be a team in the Prem that we thought could be successful was never going to be easy."

He conceded the negativity on the terraces can affect players, without grumbling about it.

"If it's fair or not it doesn't really matter," he insisted. "They can express their opinion however they want. I would hope they've seen a lot of work done. We worked really hard as a club, as a group, as a team to save our season last time and we're going to do the same again."

The easiest route would start with a nice, early goal on Sunday so the Elland Road songs are more celebratory than scathing.

"A confident start, and we need a goal in general," is what he is looking for. "We need goals (after one in the last four matches). The lead would be massively important for us.

"I love Elland Road, I love our fans and we need them right now. We need to be unified. They helped us last season in tough moments.

"They (Fulham) are a good footballing team who spread the field very well, a good passing team. (Aleksandar) Mitrovic is a very dangerous player, one of the most clever players in the league, and we'll have to manage him the right way.

"They've had a really good start to the season so it won't be easy."

Life in the Premier League rarely is. There is a reason why people like Marsch get paid such big bucks.



https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/jesse-marsch-must-refocus-leeds-united-minds-onto-fulham-after-a-mental-battering-at-leicester-city-3889872

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My Word, Jesse Marsch Needs Win On Sunday, Ex-Leeds United Star Insists

Former Leeds United star Simon Walton has stressed that Jesse Marsch needs a win against Fulham at home on Sunday to release some of the growing pressure on him.

Leeds are without a win in seven games in the Premier League and have lost their last three on the trot, including a 2-0 defeat to Leicester at the King Power Stadium on Thursday night.

The Whites are now sitting 16th in the league table and are only separated by goal difference from the teams in the relegation zone.

Without a league win since 21st August, Marsch is now feeling the hit as Leeds manager and Walton admitted that the American needs his team to turn up and beat Fulham at home on Sunday.

He does not believe that a poor result could lead to Marsch's sacking but indicated that the Elland Road crowd could turn against the manager if things fail to go Leeds' way at home this weekend.

Walton said on BBC Radio Leeds: "He's got to win on Sunday, no doubt about it.

"I'm not saying he's going to lose his job if they don't.

"But my word, he's got to win on Sunday.

Because that could be a hostile environment, to say the least."

Fulham are coming into the game on the back of a 3-0 defeat against Aston Villa, which eventually cost Steven Gerrard's job on Thursday night.



https://insidefutbol.com/2022/10/21/my-word-jesse-marsch-needs-win-on-sunday-ex-leeds-united-star-insists/582577/

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Aston Villa are handed a major boost as Douglas Luiz's suspension is OVERTURNED ahead of Sunday's clash with Brentford... as they prepare for their first match after sacking Steven Gerrard

    Aston Villa star Douglas Luiz has had his suspension against Fulham overturned
    The Brazilian will be available to feature against Brentford at Villa Park on Sunday
    Villa sacked Steven Gerrard in the wake the club's humiliating 3-0 loss by Fulham
    Christian Norgaard is back in training but remains a major doubt for the weekend

Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz has had his suspension against Fulham overturned and is free to face Brentford on Sunday.

Luiz was sent off for violent conduct on Thursday after tempers flared with striker Aleksandar Mitrovic during Villa's humiliating 3-0 loss at Craven Cottage.

The west Midlands club axed manager Steven Gerrard in the wake of the defeat after falling to 17th in the Premier League.

The Brazilian will now be available for selection this weekend, while Boubacar Kamara and Lucas Digne remain on the sidelines through injury.

A statement on Aston Villa's club website read: 'Douglas Luiz has seen a claim of wrongful dismissal upheld by an independent Regulatory Commission.

'The Aston Villa midfielder was sent off for violent conduct during Thursday night's Premier League defeat against Fulham at Craven Cottage.

Luiz will now not serve a suspension and is available for Sunday's fixture against Brentford at Villa Park.'

Although Brentford midfielder Christian Norgaard has returned to training, he is still a major doubt ahead of the clash at Villa Park. 

The Dane has been out with an ankle injury and will hope to be fit in time for next week's match against Wolves.

Pontus Jansson (thigh), Aaron Hickey (foot) and Thomas Strakosha (ankle) remain out until after the World Cup.




https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-11341815/Douglas-Luizs-suspension-OVERTURNED-ahead-Aston-Villas-clash-Brentford.html

[WhiteJC]

Leeds United best and worst case scenarios this weekend as prospect of bottom three looms large

A look at where Leeds could end up at the close of play this weekend

Leeds United are set to enter must-win territory on Monday as they host Fulham at Elland Road. The Whites are winless in seven matches and the pressure on Jesse Marsch was cranked up enormously on Thursday night following the 2-0 defeat at then bottom of the table Leicester City.

Leeds now sit 16th in the Premier League table and are only out of the bottom three on goal difference. Their tally of nine points from 10 matches is actually one worse off than this time last season under Marcelo Bielsa.

With both Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur away before the World Cup break, Sunday represents a huge match to pick up a much-needed three points. So, with that in mind, here is a look at the best and worst case scenarios for Leeds this weekend.

Best-case
Leeds can ease the pressure somewhat and potentially move up to 13th in the table with a win. The Whites can climb up above Everton, Southampton and West Ham United this weekend, though results would have to go in their favour.

Everton host Crystal Palace at Goodison Park in what they will see as a big chance to end a barren run of their own. Southampton, meanwhile, face a very tough test as they welcome Arsenal to the South Coast, with West Ham hosting Bournemouth at the London Stadium on Monday.

Draws for all three of those sides, coupled with a Leeds win, would see Marsch's side climb above all of them.

Worst-case
The heat would very much be heaped upon Marsch if Leeds come away empty handed on Sunday. They are guaranteed to drop at least one place to 17th, while dropping into the bottom three also feels a very plausible scenario.

A point for Aston Villa at home to Brentford would see them move above Leeds, and the same goes for Wolves, who host Leicester. A draw between those two sides at Molineux could also mean Leeds move as low as 19th, if they are beaten by a minimum of three goals.



https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/leeds-united-best-worst-case-25327285

[WhiteJC]

Silva insists he never doubted Willian could still cut in in the Premier League

Marco Silva insists he never had any doubts Willian could still cut it at Premier League level.

The 34-year-old former Chelsea wide-man was outstanding for Fulham in their impressive 3-0 win over Aston Villa on Thursday.

Willian, who endured an unhappy stint at Arsenal, recently returned to English football following a brief spell with his hometown team Corinthians.

He rolled back the years against Villa, putting in the kind of display that made him such a popular player during his eight seasons at Chelsea.

Fulham have won both matches he has started this season, with his debut for the club coming in the 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest last month.

"He is top level and a top guy who still loves football and that is a great thing for me," Whites boss Silva said.

"Every single day he comes in to training he has a smile on his face and even at 34 he is still learning and wants to keep improving.

"I think he showed the quality to make the right decisions and he was really good (against Villa), and although from a collective point of view it is hard to single out a man of the match because the team did so well, he was really good."

Willian spent a month training with Fulham before being offered a contract.

But Silva maintains he was never on trial at the club and the delay in getting an agreement over the line was simply down to seeing if the former Brazil international still had the desire to play at the highest level.

"I never doubted his quality, but we had to think about his age, and in the minds of some people was his last spell at Arsenal where in the last few months he wasn't at his best," he said.

"But I remember at Arsenal he had a very good impact at the start and although you can't compare the competition in Brazil to the Premier League, we watched him when we knew there was a chance we might get him.

"Even there he had some really good moments, so it wasn't a trial – it was just having a conversation to see where he was at.

"I didn't need to see him train, or see his quality on the ball, it was just a matter of him feeling us and see how he felt about being here with us every day.

"Then it was a case of me and him talking and we then took the decision together and it was the best for him and the football club.

"Despite all of his success, he is a humble guy, a top professional and a brilliant guy to have around."



https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/silva-insists-he-never-doubted-willian-could-still-cut-in-in-the-premier-league

[WhiteJC]

Predicted Leeds United line-up vs Fulham as embattled Jesse Marsch rings the changes

A look at how we expect Jesse Marsch to line his XI up at Elland Road in the Premier League against Fulham with the last of the team news through

Changes Jesse Marsch made on Thursday night show how unpredictable the Leeds United head coach can be. It makes anticipating Sunday's clash with Fulham that little harder, but the insipidity of midweek compared to last weekend has to mean a reversion to something like the Arsenal line-up.

Captain Liam Cooper shored things up in the backline on Thursday at Leicester City and having had his minutes managed, he is set to return to the starting line-up. Diego Llorente did not do enough at the Foxes to transform perceptions of his ability in the middle of defence.

If Pascal Struijk is fit, as Marsch hopes, then the Dutch defender needs to be restored in Junior Firpo's place. The former has barely put a foot wrong this season, while the latter again showed the lack of defensive nous needed to protect the United backline.

Crysencio Summerville got more involved in the Leeds attack than he has done in his bench cameos, but the 20-year-old failed to test Danny Ward with the two efforts he had in the first half on Thursday. He still just looks a little out of his depth and while Jack Harrison may have gone off the boil in recent games, he is far more influential than Summerville.

The rest of the team should have enough credit in the bank with Marsch to preserve their places. Patrick Bamford was poor and isolated in midweek, but it was clear how much better the attack worked with him on the frontline last weekend.

Predicted line-up: Meslier; Kristensen, Koch, Cooper, Struijk; Adams, Roca; Harrison, Aaronson, Sinisterra; Bamford.



https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/predicted-leeds-united-lineup-fulham-25328080

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Everton could get Patterson boost for Fulham clash

Everton could have Nathan Patterson back in the matchday squad in time for their trip to Fulham next weekend after the Scot resumed full training with the rest of the first team.   



https://www.toffeeweb.com/season/22-23/news/42761.html

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Pascal Struijk now faces late fitness test for Leeds United clash v Fulham - Injury Expert

Leeds United defender Pascal Struijk is now facing a late fitness test for the Premier League showdown against Fulham, according to Ben Dinnery.

The injury expert shared the news after the defender missed the 2-0 defeat against Leicester City on Thursday 20th October due to a small issue picked up after Arsenal.

Jesse Marsch brought in Junior Firpo after Struijk had started every single game in the Premier League this season as one of the most consistent performers.

Sharing the news on his Premier Injuries website, Dinnery admitted there was a 50% status regarding the fitness of Struijk that he would need to prove before kick-off.

Late Call.
For the sake of everyone, we will be hoping that Struijk returns.

Firpo came back into the side at Leicester and was his usual self straight away, committing silly fouls in stupid areas and doing nothing going forward.

Sometimes it is hard to believe that he was signed from Barcelona, and our issues at left-back are just mounting with each passing week, as well as our number nine.

The Dutch enforcer has proved himself to be the better option though and gives us more solidity down that side, and if fit, there are no doubts that he will start again.

After making those four questionable changes last time out, Marsch may revert to what he knows best this weekend with the likes of Liam Cooper coming back into the side.

Leeds are desperate for three points and the pressure is really starting to mount after seven games without a win, and this simply is the best opportunity for that right now.



https://motleedsnews.com/featured/pascal-struijk-now-faces-late-fitness-test-for-leeds-united-clash-v-fulham-injury-expert/

[WhiteJC]

2 Fulham threats Leeds United simply have to shut down at Elland Road on Sunday

Leeds United host Fulham at Elland Road on Sunday without a win in seven league games.

Leeds last played Fulham in the Premier League in the 20/21 season, where the Whites did the double over their hosts. They won 2-1 thanks to goals from Patrick Bamford and Raphinha at Craven Cottage after a 4-3 thriller at Elland Road earlier in the season.

Leeds' last win in the league came back in August against Chelsea in a 3-0 win at Elland Road. The poor run of form has stretched into worrying territory and they are aiming to get back on track after a bitterly disappointing 2-0 defeat against Leicester on Thursday night, with fans also beginning to question if Jesse Marsch is under pressure.

A huge game for him and his side. Fulham impressively beat Aston Villa 3-0 in their previous game, but who are the threats for them? We take a look at TWO here...

Aleksandar Mitrović
The main man for the Cottagers last season was Mitrović. The tall and powerful Serbian scored 43 league goals for Fulham last season – a record at EFL Championship level.

He also has 50 goals for his country from just 76 appearances, and eight league goals in the Premier League so far this season, outlining that he is certainly the danger man for Fulham.

Aggressive and combative, good in the air, and with an eye for goal with both feet. If Fulham are to ensure survival in their first season back at this level this season, then Mitrović will have a huge part to play in that.

Andreas Pereira
The Brazilian, formerly of Manchester United, has been deployed as an attacking-midfielder in Fulham's 4-2-3-1 primarily.

He didn't have the best time of things at Old Trafford but seems to have reinvigorated himself for Fulham. He takes almost all of the set-pieces. His corners and free-kicks have so far contributed to two assists.

He has also claimed one goal as well since joining the club. The threat of Mitrović, alongside Tim Ream, Tosin Adarabioyo, and Joao Palhinha in the air, matched with Pereira's delivery, will be something for Jesse Marsch to keep a close eye on.



https://www.leedsallover.com/2-fulham-threats-leeds-united-simply-have-to-shut-down-at-elland-road-on-sunday/

[b+w geezer]

Khan reportedly makes $250 million each year from his NFL franchise, while his ownership of Fulham FC nets him $125 annually (via Forbes).

Replace "nets him" by "loses him" and that's probably about right, in terms of annual outlays during his time here -- losses he has (many thanks Mr Khan) written off . The club is potentially sellable for more than he bought it, clawing some of that outlay back, but annual losses are nevertheless not at all the same as annual profits. Can Forbes really have suggested that? Have to wonder about the rest of the article.