Friday Fulham Stuff - 23/08/24...

[WhiteJC]

Manager admits club are 'preparing' for Fulham target to leave – Potential boost for Marco Silva's side
Lyon manager Pierre Sage has admitted they are preparing for Rayan Cherki to leave, as he's chased by Fulham.

RMC Sport cover comments from the Lyon boss today as Cherki is pushed towards the exit door by the French club.

Reports throughout the summer have seen Cherki linked with a departure from Lyon, with Borussia Dortmund and then Paris Saint Germain reportedly interested.

Neither of those moves came to fruition and it is now Fulham who are leading the race for his signature.

Reports in England yesterday indicated that they had agreed a £12.7 plus £4m on bonuses deal with Lyon for the midfielder but needed to convince him of the move to Craven Cottage.

In the meantime, Sage has been asked about the midfielder's future at a press conference today and made it clear they're almost preparing for him to leave.

"There has always been a departure in the background, with all the communication that was going on around him, we were waiting for him in Paris, then we were talking about it in Dortmund, then in lots of other clubs," he said.

"So, it's true that for us, we are preparing more for him to leave. Given that there is no short-term projection for him in the squad, there may be no point in him not training with us.

"We will see what happens on August 31, because if at that time, he is still an Olympique Lyonnais player, the data of the problem will be a little different. But I am not sure that this is the case..."

It remains to be seen, then, if Fulham can get the deal over the line. All indications are that they won't face any problems from Lyon. It's likely a case of convincing Cherki then.

Given he had offers from Dortmund and PSG already, who can provide Champions League football, perhaps he is wondering whether Fulham is the best destination for him.

That's not to disparage Marco Silva's side in any way but it certainly seems to be something Cherki is considering.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/manager-admits-club-are-preparing-for-fulham-target-to-leave-potential-boost-for-marco-silvas-side/

[WhiteJC]

Chris Sutton has only one clear winner as he shares Fulham vs Leicester City score prediction
Steve Cooper takes his Leicester City players to Craven Cottage to face Fulham on Saturday in a bid to secure a first three points of the new season.

Leicester City are already off the mark in the Premier League, surviving a Tottenham onslaught on Monday night to somehow grind out a 1-1 draw.

With Tottenham in total control as they went in 1-0 up at the break the pattern continued early in the second-half until Jamie Vardy headed home an Abdul Fatawu cross from close range to equalise in the 57th-minute.

After the goal Steve Cooper must have thought he was watching a different team as Leicester finally started to lay a glove on their opponents before surviving a late Spurs surge to draw 1-1.

A decent start to the season despite concerns around the performance, Cooper will eye the trip to West London as a chance to get more points on the board early in the season.

Chris Sutton predicts Leicester City to lose against Fulham
Whilst collectively there still looks to be plenty of work to do, there were some impressive individual displays for Leicester against Tottenham.

Fatawu looked ready be a threat in the Premier League, whilst Facundo Buonanotte impressed on his debut having joined on loan from Brighton.

Oliver Skipp was unveiled prior to kick-off on Monday night having sealed a £20 million deal from Spurs and could make his debut at Fulham.

Despite this, player-turned-pundit Chris Sutton can't see past a home win.

Sutton was predicting all of the Premier League fixtures for BBC Sport ahead of the second match-day of the campaign, where he revealed that he thinks Fulham will beat Cooper's side 2-0.

Sutton said: "Fulham were competitive against Manchester United last week and probably felt hard done by they didn't come away with a point.

"Leicester got absolutely trounced in the first half against Tottenham. But in fairness, they were resilient, got the goal and carried a threat.

"It was great to see Jamie Vardy back in the Premier League and getting a goal from Leicester's perspective, too.

"But I think Fulham at home, this will be a 2-0 win."

Bobby De Cordova-Reid will be hoping to make his mark against former club Fulham
One debutant who did not cover himself in glory against Tottenham was Bobby De Cordova-Reid.

The 31-year-old arrived for free this summer having rejected a new contract at Fulham and was generally viewed as an astute signing for the Foxes.

However, staring in a left midfield position on his competitive debut on Monday night, De Cordova-Reid struggled to make an impact in an attacking sense and lost Pedro Porro for Tottenham's goal.

The Jamaica international will be hoping Cooper gives him the chance to face his former employers on Saturday, where he must show his manager a much-improved display from Monday night.



https://www.leicestercity.news/match/chris-sutton-has-only-one-clear-winner-as-he-shares-fulham-vs-leicester-city-score-prediction/

[WhiteJC]

Welcoming Fans to the Riverside

From this weekend's opening home match, fans located in The Riverside will experience the next phase of the development.

Whilst there's still more to come as the development continues into the season, as advised during the launch last March, this Saturday represents another significant moment in the build project, with new facilities, experiences and activities for fans to enjoy.
Riverside Turnstiles

Supporters seated in The Riverside will now be able to enter from either end of the ground, along the river walkway, with the Hammersmith river walk turnstiles continuing to operate as per the last two seasons and the Bishop's Park entrance opening for the first time.

Access to The Riverside from Bishop's Park can be gained by following the river walk path.

Supporters not located within The Riverside will not be able to enter the ground from either of these entrances – please continue to use the turnstiles located on Stevenage Road.

A new ticket office will also open at the Bishop's Park entrance to assist with ticket enquiries and support. Please note, fans will not be able to purchase tickets from these windows.
Riverside Market

On the ground floor, fans will find the latest steps towards finalising the Riverside Market, with the space refreshed since the end of last season with many of the final finishes revealed, including new kiosks and bars.

In addition, Saturday will present a special moment as guests use the final river path design for the first time, ahead of opening to the public.
Entertainment

In line with the early opening of 12 noon, supporters in The Riverside will be able to enjoy pre- and post- match entertainment this Saturday.

Take advantage of early bird offers, with all pints of beer just £1, and soft drinks 50p, until 2pm.

Elsewhere, fans can enjoy live music and DJ performances, surprise treats and competitions for early arrivals, activities for the family – including the opportunity to meet Billy the Badger, face painting and balloon modelling – as well as a post-match player appearance.

Throughout Craven Cottage, fans who arrive within the first hour of their respective stand opening time will be entered into a prize draw for the chance to win one of eight Home Shirts signed by Head Coach Marco Silva!

TV screens will also show coverage of the early and late live Premier League kick-offs, with The Riverside remaining open two hours following the match for fans to continue their matchday experience after the final whistle.
Premium Hospitality Experiences

The Dugout sports bar will open for the first time this weekend, providing fans with a new way to enjoy matchday. Guests will be able to access the dugout from 12 noon, and take their seat to watch the match behind the team benches.
Digital Ticketing

Craven Cottage will be operating a digital ticket entry this Saturday. Please plan your journey and arrive in plenty of time.

More information on digital ticketing can be found on our user guide and help pages.

Digital Ticketing Guides

The Riverside promises to be a destination like no other in world football, and your continued support is appreciated.

Everyone at the Club is looking forward to welcoming fans and enjoying another milestone moment in The Riverside on Saturday.

https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2024/august/22/welcoming-fans-to-the-riverside/

[WhiteJC]

Matchday Update: Leicester
Important information for fans ahead of our first home game against Leicester City this weekend.
Digital Tickets

Fans are reminded that a new system will be in place at Craven Cottage from this weekend's home match, with digital tickets now in place, and we encourage supporters to read this information carefully to ensure your entry is as smooth as possible.

All digital season passes have been distributed to supporters, sent via email and ready to add to Apple and Google Wallets on your smartphone.

Individual match passes continue to be sent to ticket purchasers who have selected digital entry, with passes located within the booking confirmation.

Supporters must download their ticket in advance of matchday and before they arrive at Craven Cottage. 

Screenshots of digital tickets WILL NOT permit access into the stadium.

Supporters are reminded to charge their phones before heading to Craven Cottage and to have their Apple or Google Wallet app open prior to getting to the front of the queue/turnstile.

Supporters with multiple digital tickets on one device should swipe left and right between the different digital tickets when entering the stadium, and scan each ticket individually to allow access to those in their party.

Should supporters encounter any problems on the day, please look out for our Digital Ticketing Team in red shirts and our Here to Help stewards who will be able to assist.

Fans can view all FAQs and user guides in advance of arriving at Craven Cottage - including how to add tickets to your wallet and how to scan your ticket at the turnstile - in our digital ticketing hub.

Arrive Early: Extended Opening Hours & Early Bird Offers

With supporters adjusting to the new entry methods, queues are expected, and supporters are encouraged to arrive early and take their seats in plenty of time.

At Fulham v Leicester City, the ground opening hours have been extended - The Riverside will open three hours before kick-off (12:00) and Johnny Haynes Stand, Hammersmith and Putney Ends will open two hours before kick-off (13:00).

For this weekend, all fans who arrive within the first hour of their respective stand opening time will be entered into a prize draw for the chance to win one of eight Home Shirts signed by Head Coach Marco Silva!

In addition, until 2pm all pints of beer within Craven Cottage will be just £1 and soft drinks just 50p! Fans will be able to access this early bird offer from all kiosks serving drinks inside the ground from when gates open.

We urge supporters to ensure they leave enough time to arrive at Craven Cottage; please plan your journey in advance to ensure a smooth entry into the ground. Arriving too close to kick-off may result in missing the opening stages of the match.



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2024/august/22/matchday-update-leicester/

[WhiteJC]

Sander Berge signs for Fulham
Norwegian international Sander Berge has signed for Fulham from Burnley. The 26-year-old midfielder has joined on a five-year deal.

Premier League side Fulham have completed their fourth summer signing with the announcement of Sander Berge.

Berge, 26, spent just one year at Burnley before returning to the top tier with Fulham.

He becomes the next name through the door since the arrival of Ryan Sessegnon, Emile Smith Rowe, and Jorge Cuenca.

The fee is believed to be around £25million, as reported by The Athletic.

Berge becomes The Cottagers' first defensive midfield signing since the departure of fan-favourite João Palhinha, who left Fulham for Bayern Munich earlier in the transfer window.

At the start of the week, personal terms were already in place and Berge travelled to London for his medical on Tuesday.

The ex-Sheffield United player did not appear in either of Burnley's two opening Championship games this season after playing in 37 of their Premier League matches last year.

Fulham have been keen on a new midfielder throughout this window, with Manchester United's Scott McTominay as a possible target.

Berge was also said to be wanted by Man United this summer so it is likely that McTominay will now stay in Manchester, especially as the Red Devils have rejected bids for him.

Sander Berge: The stats and what to expect
Although Berge is a like-for-like positional replacement for Palhinha, he does offer a different style of play.

The latter was an elite tackler, topping the stat table for tackles won in both of his Premier League seasons.

Take nothing away from Berge, he still made 2.34 tackles per 90 in 2023/24, but Palhinha is a tough player to replace.

At 6 feet 4" tall, Berge is superb in the air. In a relegated Burnley side, he was in the top 20% of aerial duels won in the whole league.

He may not offer the forward driving runs that Palhinha sometimes showed, but he is a very solid combination of a traditional 'eight' and 'six'.

2023/24
Goals: 1

Assists: 2

Key passes: 26

Tackles: 76

Aerial duels won: 61

Shots blocked: 21



https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2024/08/22/fulham/1193471-sander-berge-signs-for-fulham.html

[WhiteJC]

Tim Ream gets MLS homecoming with Charlotte FC after "emotional" Fulham exit
Tim Ream got inundated by a deluge of congratulations and well-wishes when his exit from Fulham FC was confirmed earlier this summer – understandably, given his near-decade of loyal service (the Cottagers' final match of the 2023-24 season marked his 300th start for the club) and high standing among the London side's tight-knit fanbase.



One recurring sort of salutation hit him harder than most: Laments from young supporters with no conception of FFC without him.

"The relationships and everything that's formed through nine years, the messages that have come through have been – yeah, it's been emotional," Ream told reporters last week, "as you'd expect. And to think that some kids are telling me, 'Oh, I came to my first game at 8, and now I'm 17, and you've always been there.'

"When those messages come through, and the messages from parents saying that their kids are upset, it's nice that you've had that kind of impact on people and on a club."

    61 caps for the @USMNT 🇺🇸
    2022 @FIFAWorldCup ✅
    2024 @CopaAmerica ✅
    2x @CNationsLeague Champion 🏆🏆

    For the Stars and Stripes and 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧 👑 pic.twitter.com/s1EW5uX3Jg
    — Charlotte FC (@CharlotteFC) August 7, 2024

Back where it started


This weekend Ream will come full circle again, this time on American soil. Nearly 13 years after his last MLS appearance, he's in line to make his Charlotte FC debut on Saturday as The Crown host his first professional club, New York Red Bulls, in a key Eastern Conference clash at Bank of America Stadium (7:30 pm ET | Apple TV - Free).

Touching down in tar heel country this month prompted another tsunami of text messages and phone calls from those who know how much it means to make this homecoming. It took Ream days to sift through it all.

"It's a big deal to make this decision and make a big change. But also, I think I've formed so many amazing and incredible relationships because of this game, because of what I've been able to do, that I think it's mostly just happiness for my family [more] than anything," said the longtime US international.

"That's the coolest thing, is that you're not getting the congratulations and everything from a soccer standpoint, you're getting it from a personal standpoint. And for me, that matters more than anything to do with the on-field stuff."

    Nine years. 312 appearances. Three promotions.

    An outstanding servant. pic.twitter.com/97rUSghcBp
    — Fulham Football Club (@fulhamfc) August 7, 2024

"I get to do this because of them"


Few exports have been better ambassadors for North American soccer in this century, even at Fulham, an outfit rich in connections to the United States and Canada. The St. Louis native played his part in three promotion campaigns from the Championship and won FFC's Player of the Year award in 2018, aging like fine wine through the years.

The cerebral center back is 36, a full 10 years beyond the average age of English Premier League central defenders last season, yet remained a trusted contributor, albeit with a dip in minutes played from the previous year. He'd already earned a contract extension to summer 2025, diligently keeping hold of his starting role with the US men's national team along the way.

When a US return began to materialize, Cottagers manager Marco Silva tried to convince Ream to stick around for one more year, to at least give it a second thought.

"The day after the season finished, I sat down with Marco and we had a good chat and I told him," he recalled. "They wanted me to stay. They tried to push me to stay and really think about it ... But I really think through things, and we really thought through this whole move, and it was, for us personally, as a family, it was the right thing to do. It was time to move on."

As comfortably settled as Tim, his wife Kristen and their three young children Aidan, Theo and Lilia were along the River Thames, as much as he relished the daily battle to keep pace in the vaunted EPL, the distance from loved ones in the United States was taking its toll. A spring visit Stateside, while Ream and the USMNT defended their Concacaf Nations League trophy, prompted deeper conversations about the future.

"I get to do this because of them – because of my wife, because of the sacrifices that they've been making. There are a lot of things that I've missed, and a lot of times that they've been put second, and it was time to decide that they needed to come first in this situation," said Ream. "So that's really what it boiled down to, is putting them first while still being able to do what I love to do, and that's play the game. And this was the opportunity that came up, and one that we grabbed with both hands.

"With all the national team responsibilities, with all the traveling, with all the games, with all the preseason and the trips you take away and the things that you miss out on ... how much time that I've already put into the game, and how much time my family has not had me at their disposal, and not had me under the same roof."

    "Just come in, put your head down and work"

    Taking on each day with a veteran mentality #ForTheCrown 💪 pic.twitter.com/KkvAi8UqbH
    — Charlotte FC (@CharlotteFC) August 14, 2024

Choosing Charlotte


Their next move was simplified by the extensive recruiting pitch laid out by Charlotte FC, who from early in the process made it clear to Ream and his family how much they wanted him in Carolina blue, despite already possessing a sturdy young center-back duo in Andrew Privett and Adilson Malanda, the foundation of a back line that's allowed 27 goals in 25 league matches, second-fewest in MLS.

Ask CLTFC leaders, and they'll explain why their showcase defensive signing of a busy summer transfer window is a can't-miss reinforcement for the spine of their team as well as its soul.

"I'll take any of the first 11, first 15 of the US national team in our team. So that's one thing," general manager Zoran Krneta told MLSsoccer.com this week. "Second thing is the player has a huge experience in Premier League, Championship, on the highest level. He's a natural-born winner, if you like. He's a warrior, he's a leader, he's someone that would add perfectly well to a few other leaders that we have in the changing room.

"We have a lot of young players – don't forget we moved up four players from MLS NEXT Pro last year," he added. "These young players, they need a general. They need a couple of people who will raise the standard; they'll show up to every training at the same level, they'll raise intensity of the training ... Also, I think Ream is still at the level that he can be one of the best defenders in the league."

    2010 ➡️ 2024

    Welcome back, @timream5. pic.twitter.com/fuiBcavEZ8
    — Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 7, 2024

A different MLS


Those are no small expectations. Ream, who played alongside the likes of Thierry Henry, Rafa Marquez and Dax McCarty at RBNY, returns to a vastly evolved and expanded MLS that bears limited resemblance to the league he once knew.

"It's definitely improved. You know, the reason I left in the first place was because I felt I needed to move on for my development," he noted. "There's still a lot of room to develop further, but it's so much further than what it was when I first came in, and I had guys to learn off of like Thierry Henry, so the situation was a little bit different.

"But looking at it now, it's incredible, where it was to where it is now, and it's part of why I felt comfortable and ready to make the move and come back, because it is such a higher level now."

A competition once centered on athleticism, with limited stylistic diversity, now teems with varying ideas and global influences among both the player pool and the coaching ranks.

"There's more of a focus on being technical, but also being tactically astute, being fully aware of in-game situations, to where before it was, 'OK, let's just run over people, let's just run past people, let's just be physical, and we'll win that way,'" said Ream. "Now you have to find different ways to win games. I think that's a sign of the league developing, but I think it's also a sign of the players developing and managers developing, and bringing in better managers, better players."

He says he has no desire to transition towards coaching like Christian Fuchs, another Premier League veteran who finished his playing days at Charlotte and is now an assistant under Dean Smith, given how much time away from family they, too, must navigate. But he can be something of a coach on the pitch for Smith, who has earned plaudits for his work to shape CLT into a rugged, organized contender in the East.

"His experience on the training ground already has shown through," said Smith. "He's a talker, he's a leader, and he adds to to what we've already got: Ashley Westwood, leader, talker, Nathan Byrne, leader, talker. It'll give the younger players the opportunity to see somebody who's played at the top level and reinforce what we're telling them, what takes to be a good leader, and hopefully they can learn from that. And I think he won't fail to improve some of the players around him."

And much like his role on the USMNT, where he's added greatly to the collective memory of a very young player pool, Ream can help a fledgling club build a sense of place.

"Sometimes I look at the players -- and this can be both XIs – when the national anthem's on, there's only probably four or five players, really, with the hands on the heart giving the national anthem out," added Smith. "And I just think it would be pretty cool for us to have a few more of them players. They do come at a premium, but I believe they bring that care and attention to the squad as well."

    Bringing years of experience to our backline@OfficialBWFC Player of the Year 🏅
    2017 @fulhamfc Player of the Year 🏅
    2020 @EFL Playoff Winner 🏆
    2021 @EFL Winner 🏆
    2021 @PFA Team of the Year ✅ pic.twitter.com/d0Cd8V5qo8
    — Charlotte FC (@CharlotteFC) August 8, 2024

"Earn your place"


How much does Ream have left in the tank? He himself sounds as curious about that question as anyone. His distribution out of the back has always been his calling card, he remains surprisingly fleet of foot in the open field and his astute reading of the game further enhances that. With role models like Portuguese icon Pepe, who this summer became the oldest player in the history of the European Championships at age 41, the perception of what's possible for veteran defenders has broadened.

"I don't really look at my age as a hindrance. I actually look at it as a positive. I've seen a lot of things, I've played a lot of games, experienced a lot of different situations, and it's up to me to use that to my advantage. So I'll play as long as I feel physically and mentally good, which I do," Ream said.

"I still try to compare myself to the guys who are 21, 22 who are within the team, and what are they doing physically? OK, I need to be matching that physically, or better, because that's the way you stay in the game."

With 37 points from a 10W-8L-7D record leading up to the Leagues Cup break, Charlotte sit sixth in the East as the home stretch of the season kicks into gear. They're comfortably clear of the playoff line, but recognize that any sort of realistic prospects for MLS Cup Playoffs success tend to hinge on home-field advantage in Round One, a privilege that requires a top-four finish.

Ream's been there before, in every sense of the word.

"The way I always treat any transition is you have to go in and you have to earn your place," he said. "I don't think that changes, no matter what your age is, how many clubs you played for, how many countries you played in. I think the basis of having a long career is putting your head down and just getting after the work, understanding what is being asked of you, understanding what is being asked of the team, and then going out and doing it."



https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/tim-ream-gets-mls-homecoming-with-charlotte-fc-after-emotional-fulham-exit