Monday Fulham Stuff - 13/10/25...

[WhiteJC]

International Team's Plane Carrying Premier League Stars Forced to Make Emergency Landing
The Nigerian national football team was forced to make an emergency landing during their flight ahead of a make-or-break World Cup qualifier against Benin Republic on Saturday night in terrifying scenes. The Super Eagles had been travelling home from Polokwane, South Africa, where they secured a 2-1 victory over Lesotho on Friday.

They currently sit third in Group C of Africa's qualifying campaign, and with only the winner of each group guaranteed a spot at the World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico next summer, they must beat Benin on Tuesday. Benin are three points ahead and have a superior goal difference, leaving Nigeria with no margin for error.

A malfunction on the aircraft carrying the team forced the pilots to divert and make an emergency landing at the nearest airport. Among those onboard were five Premier League stars - Fulham trio Calvin Bassey, Alex Iwobi, and Samuel Chukwueze, as well as Brentford's Frank Onyeka and Wolves' Tolu Arokodare. Meanwhile, Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman are also part of the squad.

Flight Carrying Nigerian National Team Forced Into Emergency Landing
According to the Daily Mail, a chartered ValueJet Airline aircraft - the same one that had flown the team to South Africa last week - was used again for the return journey. The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) stated that the plane made a scheduled stop in Luanda, Angola's capital, for routine refuelling.

In a statement, the federation confirmed that the aircraft's windscreen suffered a "heavy crack" mid-air. This forced the pilots to make an emergency landing just 25 minutes into the flight, with the plane touching down safely back at the airport in Luanda. See below:

https://x.com/KelechiAFC/status/1977093375896486170

Everyone on board the flight, including players, officials, and government delegates, were safely evacuated upon landing. Plans for another aircraft to fly from Lagos and pick up the delegation in Luanda have already been drawn up.

The NFF said, as per The Sun: "ValueJet Airline and the relevant Federal Government of Nigeria authorities, including the Hon. Minister of Aviation, the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Chief of Staff to Mr President, are working assiduously to get the necessary overflying and landing permits for another aircraft to fly from Lagos, pick the delegation in Luanda and fly them to Uyo."



https://www.givemesport.com/nigeria-plane-emergency-landing-premier-league-stars-world-cup-qualifier/

[WhiteJC]

Mikel Arteta already knows 'tremendous' Fulham player who could cause Arsenal danger next weekend
The Gunners travel to Fulham this weekend and will once again take on a familiar face at Craven Cottage.

Arsenal look for a third Premier League win in a row, and to make it eight matches unbeaten across all competitions, when they make the short trip to Fulham next weekend.

The Gunners sit top of the table after recent slip ups from Liverpool and will look to keep their one-point lead on the Reds. The north London side have, however, failed to win their last two trips to Craven Cottage.

Arsenal will face a Fulham side who have been somewhat hit or miss this term. The Cottagers sit 14th in the table and have lost their last two fixtures, against AFC Bournemouth and Aston Villa, by a scoreline of 3-1. The side's last Premier League win came against Brentford on September 20, also by that score.

Arsenal denied by VAR last time at Craven Cottage
After a 1-1 draw with Fulham at Craven Cottage last season, Arteta was left 'gutted' by the result and praised a 'quality' Fulham side, who held onto a point thanks to a late Bukayo Saka goal being disallowed by VAR.

Ever since 2023, when facing Fulham, Arsenal go up against a familiar face. Alex Iwobi is now a regular in the starting XI under Marco Silva and is, of course, a product of the Gunners' academy.

The 29-year-old has started every Premier League match for Fulham this term and, when the side is playing well, he is usually at the heart of it. The winger scored and assisted in the 3-1 win over Brentford and also created the important equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Manchester United in August.

Iwobi was hailed as 'magical' for his performance against Brentford by Fulhamish and given an 8/10 for his showing. The outlet wrote: "Another who had their best game this season, and surprisingly so with his recent form and the worries over a potential ankle injury coming into the game.

"He looked sharp and quick from the off, which ended up showing in his attacking contributions. His speed of reaction to net the equaliser was superb, but his pass to split the Brentford defence 90 seconds later as Fulham took the lead was magical. Those are the standards he can reach when he takes a leaders' role in that attacking group."

Mikel Arteta wary of 'dangerous' Fulham
Arteta knows Iwobi thanks to his years of Arsenal and is aware of the threat he could pose the Gunners on Saturday evening. Speaking about the player last year, Arteta said: "I always liked him a lot. I always thought that he had tremendous quality, a very special talent, a talent that has the capacity to play in different spaces and positions as well. I'm really happy to see him playing at that level."

At the time, speaking more generally about Fulham and Marco Silva's work, Arteta added: "It's going to be a big challenge which we experienced last year when we lost five points against them. I have been very complimentary about them, the coach and what they do, so it's always a really tough place to go."

Iwobi made 149 appearances for Arsenal during his time with the club before joining Everton on a £34 million move in 2019. The versatile midfielder enjoyed four years with the Toffees before then making a £22 million move back to the capital with Fulham.



https://www.londonworld.com/sport/football/arsenal/arsenal-arteta-tremendous-iwobi-fulham-5353760

[WhiteJC]

Forget Dyche: Nottingham Forest Eyeing 'Genius' Postecoglou Replacement
Former Everton manager Sean Dyche is reportedly the front-runner to take over from Ange Postecoglou if Nottingham Forest decide to make a change in the dugout, but Evangelos Marinakis should be going all out for Fulham boss Marco Silva.

The international break will have been an ideal time for Forest to sack Postecoglou if they wanted to, giving a new manager two weeks to settle in at The City Ground. Postecoglou remains in charge, for now, but his job doesn't appear to be safe as he prepares for face Chelsea in the Premier League next Saturday.

Nottingham Forest Must Hire Silva Over Dyche
According to reports, former Everton boss Dyche, who left the Toffees back in January, is the front-runner to take over from Postecoglou if Forest opt to make a change in the dugout in the near future. It's claimed that Fulham manager Silva has also been considered, but there are possible concerns over having to pay compensation to prise him out of Fulham, while it's also unclear whether he'd be willing to make the move.

Dyche endured difficulties with Everton when it came to their attacking play, and considering Forest are playing in Europe now and looking to progress, he might not be the right man for the job. Silva, described as a 'genius', has turned his Fulham side into an established Premier League club after their promotion, and Marinakis shouldn't be concerned about paying compensation when it comes to appointing the next manager.

It's an incredibly important decision for Forest, and they shouldn't be settling for a manager just because they are out of work at the moment. Silva has shown more during his time at Fulham in terms of taking a club to the next level than Dyche did at Everton, and Marinakis should be doing everything he can to get him to The City Ground to replace Postecoglou if they opt to sack the former Celtic manager.



https://www.givemesport.com/nottingham-forest-marco-silva-premier-league-sean-dyche/

[WhiteJC]

West Ham must get serious to sign £22m Chelsea star as well as Fulham 'risk' who Nuno loves - opinion
West Ham must look to be shrewd and decisive once the January transfer window opens in the New Year.

Nuno Espirito Santo will have been working hard to turn the tide at West Ham over the international break and there are the first feelings of optimism after a dire start to the season.

What is clear is that the former Wolves and Nottingham Forest manager is not currently working with a squad of his own creation. The likes of James Ward-Prowse and Jean-Clair Todibo have been left out of matchday squads while Callum Marshall was preferred from the bench over Callum Wilson against Arsenal.

Nuno will no doubt be hoping to be backed with some investment come January, but making moves in the winter window is a notoriously hard task. There are, however, two realistic swoops that could be winners for West Ham - and the club should look to make both happen.

West Ham should pursue Fulham loan deal
The first is one with the goal of immediate impact. West Ham have lacked character and drive this season and a move for Fulham winger Adama Traore could solve that.

The 29-year-old is not known for being prolific in front of goal and may not directly boost the Hammers' goalscoring output, but he is an impact player with plenty of pace to burn. If West Ham are struggling for ideas, he is a ball carrier who can make things happen and win free kicks.

Football Insider have suggested that West Ham could make a move to bring Traore to West Ham in a reunion with Nuno - the two players previously worked together at Nottingham Forest. It's clear that the West Ham boss loves the forward too, with reports that he tried to sign Traore at Nottingham Forest this summer.

Traore has played just 143 minutes in the Premier League for Fulham this season and it feels likely that the Cottagers could sanction a January exit. In an ideal world, West Ham could push for a loan move - the winger's lack of consistency perhaps too big a risk for a permanent transfer.

Chelsea looking to sell rising star striker
Where a permanent transfer feels the right option is for Chelsea forward Tyrique George. Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol has freshly claimed that the forward is 'likely to leave' and the forward looks like a future star at just 19 years old.

George saw a £22 million move to Fulham collapse in the summer, which provides a rough valuation for the Hammers. It's a significant investment but just half what was spent on Mateus Fernandes.

Champions League and Europa League clubs are reportedly sniffing around a deal too, which highlights the feeling that George can go on to become something special. Should he do that, selling the striker on for a profit would be easy to do.

George has just one Premier League goal to his name and 11 top flight appearances, so would need nurturing, but West Ham must also be thinking long term. The current slump has not come about only in recent weeks.

What is particularly promising about George is the praise that Maresca has given to his personality. The player seems a fighter and a character that, despite his young age, could help lift potential future West Ham teammates.

Speaking as he broke into the first team with appearances off the bench last season, Maresca said: "I think he was good. I was very happy for him to make his debut. The most important thing is he was not shy because he played with personality. This is important for a young player."



https://www.londonworld.com/sport/football/west-ham/west-ham-george-traore-transfer-opinion-5353725