Monday Fulham Stuff - 28/09/26...

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Sources: Fulham sound out Thomas Frank to be their manager
Fulham have sounded out Thomas Frank to potentially replace Alvaro Arbeloa, sources have told Football Insider.

The west London club see the former Tottenham and Brentford manager as a "good match" for the club.

But Frank is in demand and Fulham will face intense competition to agree terms in the coming weeks.

Arbeloa, 43, is facing uncertainty around his future at Fulham just two months on from being appointed as their new manager.

The Spaniard failed to guide his side to a win in any of their first five Premier League games of the campaign, meaning they sit 19th in the table as it stands.

Rumours of discontent behind the scenes and in the dressing room have emerged in recent weeks, and he could be relieved of his duties if they continue to struggle after the international break.

Former Brentford and Tottenham boss Frank is on their radar as a potential successor to Arbeloa at Craven Cottage.

The 52-year-old is yet to return to management since being sacked by Spurs in February after a run of two wins in 17 league games.

Thomas Frank could be the next Fulham manager if Alvaro Arbeloa is sacked
Frank was a revelation in charge of Fulham's capital rivals Brentford, leading them from Championship obscurity to Premier League solidity.

His move to Tottenham did not work out, winning just 13 of his 38 games in charge in an eight-month period, with the lowest win ratio of any of their permanent managers in the Premier League era.

Sources have exclusively revealed to Football Insider that Frank is keen to return to management in the Premier League soon as several clubs keep tabs on his availability.

Fulham believe that he would suit their players and club well, but Crystal Palace are also considering making an approach for his services if they decide to sack Pierre Sage.

It remains to be seen if the Cottagers do relieve Arbeloa of his duties, with some key fixtures against promoted trio Ipswich, Hull and Coventry coming up after the international break.

What has Frank said about returning to management?
Frank released an official statement on his time at Spurs and aims for the future via the LMA in June.

He admitted that he was keen to take more time out of management over the summer, but also looked forward to returning to the dugout in the near future.

Frank wrote: "Leaving Tottenham has given me the chance to step back and reflect on my journey so far. Football management is a profession that demands complete commitment every single day, and periods like this are a rare opportunity to assess, learn and gain a fresh perspective. Time away from the touchline is allowing me to broaden my perspective and gather insights that I look forward to bringing into my next challenge.

"There have been conversations and opportunities since leaving Spurs, but I have decided not to rush into the next role. For me, this summer is not the right time to go back into management. When the time is right, I will look forward to my return as a manager, ready to embrace the job with great energy and dedication."



https://www.footballinsider247.com/fulham/sources-fulham-sound-out-thomas-frank-to-be-their-manager

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Louis Saha: A brilliant striker, but never better than when at Fulham
While Louis Saha didn't achieve as much in his career as he might have expected, he was truly sensational during his time at Fulham.

When Mohamed Al-Fayed took over Fulham in May 1997, the club had just been promoted from the Third Division.

He boldly promised Premier League football within five years and to turn London's also-rans into contenders. It seemed an ambitious aim, but it was achieved in style.

After a promising start, with Kevin Keegan steering them to the Second Division title in emphatic fashion, and being poached by England in the process, the project stalled.

While a crumbling Craven Cottage was overhauled, and expansive training facilities purchased, the instant results that Al-Fayed demanded on the pitch weren't being delivered.

Paul Bracewell had Fulham in the top half of the First Division for virtually all of his time in charge, but as they faded off the pace in the second half of the 1999-2000 season, he was dismissed.

Al-Fayed wasn't afraid to be ruthless and appointed Jean Tigana, a title winner in his previous role as Monaco manager, in his place.

It was the start of a revolution led by an aloof Frenchman and with a prolific young striker as its poster boy.

Louis Saha had experienced English football before, as a callow 20-year-old on loan to Newcastle United. He scored just twice in 12 games and returned to his parent club Metz for a similarly unproductive spell.

But in June 2000 a more mature Saha arrived at Fulham for £2.1million, money the Cottagers quickly recouped by selling Geoff Horsfield for a club-record fee.

And Saha had an immediate impact, grabbing 10 goals as Fulham won their first 11 games of the season, steaming to the top of the table. It was a position they never once surrendered.

Saha formed an effective strike partnership with the barrel-chested Barry Hayles. They were ably supported by Luis Boa Morte and Bjarne Goldbaek on the wings, while the veteran pairing of John Collins and Lee Clark bossed proceedings in the centre of the pitch. Sean Davis and Steve Finnan provided youthful energy.

Fulham utterly dominated the First Division under Tigana with their fast-paced attacking football. One of the most exciting teams there have been at that level, they picked up 101 points and scored 90 goals in the process.

Saha was the league's outstanding player and top scorer with 27.

He was one of a new breed of striker, combining the elements of a bullish old-fashioned target man – strength, power, hold-up play and heading ability – with explosive pace and exceptional technique.

Most importantly, he was capable of scoring all different types of goal and did so with alarming regularity.

Al-Fayed had aimed to reach the top flight in five years but did it in four.

His dream was to establish Fulham as the Manchester United of the south, and he looked to fulfill that promise by spending in excess of £30million on new players, including Edwin van der Sar, Steed Malbranque and Steve Marlet, in the summer of 2001.

On the opening day of their inaugural Premier League season, Fulham faced the real thing at Old Trafford and, despite losing 3-2, they impressed with a stirring performance.

Saha, meanwhile, announced his arrival by scoring twice. He lifted expertly over Fabien Barthez to give the visitors an early lead, and then, after David Beckham's equaliser, briefly put them back in front with a neat low finish.

This blistering start saw him named Player of the Month for August, and although both Saha and Fulham faltered at times as the season progressed, 13th place and a run to the FA Cup semi-final completed a smooth transition to the Premier League. Al-Fayed's statements didn't seem too outlandish after all.

The following season, having won the Intertoto Cup, Fulham got to play in Europe for the first time in their history, but it was the highlight of a largely disappointing campaign. On course for another lower mid-table finish and with Saha out of sorts, Tigana was sacked in April.

His departure, followed by Saha's in January 2004, signalled the end of an era for Fulham. Although success was enjoyed afterwards, most notably in the Europa League, it was never with the same cavalier spirit and sense of unbridled hope.

Those first five years under Al-Fayed was a remarkable period in the club's history and one unlikely to be matched anytime soon.

Move to Man Utd
Despite Fulham's reluctance to sell Saha after 15 goals in 22 games midway through the 2003-04 season, he joined Manchester United for £12.4million.

He scored at an impressive rate early on but was increasingly ground down by knee and hamstring injuries, playing sporadically across four-and-a-half seasons.

While United racked up the trophies, including the Champions League, Saha was usually absent for the big occasions.

His international career was affected too. Saha didn't make his debut for France until 2004, scoring in a 2-0 win over Belgium ahead of that summer's Euros. In the end he won just 20 caps, spread over an eight-year period.

An incredibly pure striker of the ball, in total Saha scored over 100 league goals but never quite became the player he threatened to at Craven Cottage.

When on form there were few better, but injuries ultimately dragged Saha down, depriving him of a yard of pace, forcing him to modify his game and play within himself.

Otherwise, he could have become a true great of the Premier League era.



https://www.planetfootball.com/nostalgia/louis-saha-brilliant-striker-never-better-fulham

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Fulham 10-0 Ascot United
Fulham FC Women secured second place in Group H of the FA WNL Cup with a convincing 10-0 win over Ascot United.

Ellie Olds got things started with two goals, before Leila Lister completed her hat-trick. Charlie Estcourt, Anna Grey, Harley Bennett, Leeta Rutherford and Sophie Gillies were also on target as Fulham put in a dominant performance.

We started quickly, with Olds seeing an early effort go just over before having another shot saved in the fifth minute. We continued to dominate possession and pressure the Ascot defence, and the breakthrough finally came in the ninth minute when Olds finished from Leila's cross.

Olds doubled our advantage five minutes later, getting on the end of Katie Dungate's delivery before Lister added a third in the 33rd minute with a composed finish after being released down the right.

We continued to create chances, with Jade Bradley hitting the crossbar in the 29th minute on her first start since returning from injury, while Lister got her brace, reacting quickest to a rebound ball off the woodwork to make it 4-0 to finish the first half.

We made two changes at the break, with Molly Holder and Anna Grey replacing Bradley and Dungate.

The second half continued in much the same fashion, with Estcourt producing a stunning finish from distance into the top corner in the 53rd minute.

Bennett then got her first goal in Fulham colours five minutes later, reacting quickest after Hannah Mackenzie recycled an earlier effort that was punched away by the goalkeeper.

Lister added her third of the afternoon in the 59th minute before Leeta Rutherford made it eight in the 66th minute, following up after Becky Stormer's header came back off the woodwork.

Sophie Gillies was introduced for Lister and quickly made an impact, crossing for Anna Grey to slide in and make it 9-0 in the 78th minute.

There was still plenty of energy and creativity as we searched for more, with Frankie Gibbs making an excellent save at the other end to preserve our clean sheet.

Grey then turned provider again in the 88th minute, finding Gillies in the box to complete the scoring from close range.

Olds continued to search for her hat-trick right until the final whistle, but we settled for 10 as we secured a comprehensive victory and our progression into the knockout stages of the FA WNL Cup.

Fulham FC Women return to league action next weekend, welcoming Exeter City to Motspur Park on Sunday 4th October.

Tickets are on sale now
: Gibbs, Rutherford, Mackenzie, Olds, Lister, Bennett, Estcourt, Dale, Dungate, Bradley [c]

Subs: Gray, Holder, Grey, Dean, Gillies, Stormer, Milne

: Evans, Way, Reid [c], Rogers, Haine, Merican, Joseph-White, Perveen Sheikh, Ferreira, Zayadi, Laker

Subs: Cipriano, Tramposch, Knight, Nurcellari, Gair



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2026/september/27/fulham-10-0-ascot-united/