Monday Fulham Stuff - 08/09/25...

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Three things Daniel Farke must do ahead of Leeds United's Premier League trip to Fulham
The international break has perhaps come at a good time for the Leeds United manager

Daniel Farke was a happy manager after the goalless draw with Newcastle United last Saturday, but was also at pains to stress the importance of the final two days of the transfer window.

He wanted more attackers but none came in. He is said, though, to mirror the mood of the Leeds United board - frustrated at the final day transfer collapse of Harry Wilson but satisfied with the window overall. He will be hardly stewing over what might have been this international break.

The two-week gap between fixtures gives him and his players crucial time for various aspects of preparation ahead of the trip to Fulham. This will be their second away day of the Premier League season, after torrid time in the capital for the first trip to Arsenal.

Here are three things the manager must do this week ahead of the clash at Craven Cottage.

Injury reintegration
We don't yet know who is ready to return from injury suffered pre-break, though it is understood that the issue that has ruled Joe Rodon out for Wales duty is not serious and he will be available for next Saturday.

The hope is that Ethan Ampadu can return from his knee injury, but that is no certainty. The language used around Ao Tanaka's identical setback seems to indicate he might be out longer.

Noah Okafor was able to make the bench against Newcastle United despite his groin complaints and having not been called up by Switzerland, he has had chance to make a full recovery.

Rodon will likely not be able to train until next week, perhaps towards the latter end, but if Ampadu - and maybe Tanaka - are back ready to be infiltrated back into team training, then that is a big boost for Farke. He and the medical team will make judgements on that this week.

Tactical bedding
Now that the transfer window is over. Farke knows who he is working with in total. Of course, many players are currently out on international duty so not every talent will be in house.

Nevertheless, for those who have not long arrived, this break acts as a fantastic opportunity for them to get used to what Farke is asking, and otherwise allows them to build up cohesion and bonds with teammates. The boss will need to figure out what works best in attack with the options at his disposal.

Going route one worked well against Newcastle but that cannot be the case in every game. And also, Farke is a possession-based coach and will not wish to divert too heavily from his ethos.

Getting Dominic Calvert-Lewin up to a speed where he can start his first game will be beneficial. At the same time, he and his staff will be aware of managing the load of those more at risk of injury, as per their past record. A delicate balance.

Facing the questions
Farke made it clear on Saturday that it would be difficult for Leeds to stay up without more offensive players before deadline day. The fact that this has not happened does not only make his comments more worrying but also underlines his thoughts on the current attack set-up.

Leeds chiefs have insisted that Farke is of the same mind about the window as they are. Obviously, the German was trying to emphasise his standing as manager amid the fight against relegation with his comments.

But Farke will need to speak for himself again on Thursday. His comments last weekend will be put to him and he will need to expand on what the lack of late-window signings now means for him and his team going forward. Fans will be eager to hear his thoughts.



https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/three-things-daniel-farke-must-32427285

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'Man of the Match' - Two Fulham stars feature in international win and another left out
Two Fulham stars featured in an international win on Saturday, and another sat on the bench.

Two Fulham players were in action for Nigeria on Saturday, while another sat on the bench for the entirety. Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi starred in a narrow 1-0 win over Rwanda for Nigeria to keep them in the hunt for the World Cup, while Samu Chukwueze was left on the bench.

Nigeria are currently third in their World Cup qualifying group, one point behind Benin and six points behind leaders South Africa. For context, first place qualifies for the World Cup automatically while four of the best second place teams out of eight groups progress to the play-off round.

Currently, the fourth-best second placed team is Burkina Faso with 14 points, and with Nigeria on 10 points with three games remaining, they will likely need to win all of their remaining games to keep their World Cup dream alive. They play leaders South Africa on Tuesday and then Lesotho and Benin in their final games in October.

As for the win over Rwanda, a win that keeps the Super Eagles' chances alive for now, Tolu Arokodare scored the winner after 50 minutes, but Pulse Sports have Fulham man Alex Iwobi as the Man of the Match with a rating of 7.1.

They reasoned: "The Fulham midfielder carried his form from this Premier League season into this match and played the most important role in ensuring the Super Eagles were victorious in Uyo. Iwobi was everywhere. In the first half, he was playmaker in chief, playing incisive passes which dared the attackers to do. In the second half he had a quarterback role and interpreted it with aplomb."

As for Bassey, he was given a 6.5, with the report explaining: "The Fulham player of the year was the leader in defence today, and he took his role seriously. He flexed his physical dominance over Rwandan forwards on occasion and was also integral in the Super Eagles' build-up."

Elsewhere, OwnGoalNigeria rated Bassey as an 8/10. They reasoned: "Has grown into one of the leaders of the team in defence. Won everything thrown at him and most importantly avoided a yellow card which would have seen him miss the all important game on Tuesday."

They added for Iwobi, who also got an 8/10: "One of his best performance in the Super Eagles shirt with his ball distribution and also chance creation. Stood out in the middle for the team."



https://www.londonworld.com/sport/football/fulham/fulham-stars-international-win-out-5306214

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Four Leeds United players who have point to prove vs Fulham including Noah Okafor
All four will be determined to repay the faith Daniel Farke has shown in them

With only three games gone, there is a long way to go before making any casting verdicts on a player's contributions. But after the first few weeks, we can identify a handful of line-up talents who might feel they have a point to prove.

Many of them are new signings, who are still bedding in and getting used to teammates. The money spent on each differs but the expectancy is the same - all must pull their weight and deliver if Leeds United are to survive relegation this season.

This last fortnight will have been beneficial for a number of players to either get used to Daniel Farke's instructions or build up game time consistency while away with their countries. When they arrive back at Thorp Arch later this coming week, a number will be eager to showcase themselves.

Noah Okafor

After being thrown on with the game lost at Arsenal, Okafor looked lively and direct against an admittedly shoestring Sheffield Wednesday side. However, his groin issue sustained from that outing meant he spent the goalless draw at Newcastle on the bench.

It means he has yet to make his first Premier League start since arriving. Having not been called up by Switzerland, he has had two weeks to recover from his issue and get back up to full speed.

With no further attackers signed after him with £17m handed to AC Milan for his services, Okafor will be required to chip in significantly this season. Saturday, against a mid-table side, will be a chance to show the Leeds faithful of his quality.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin

Despite a debut to forget and no goals in his two substitute outings, Calvert-Lewin has shown promising signs. The striker has got himself into the right positions and has added a dangerous dynamic to the front line.

The England international has displayed his aerial ability and also a willingness to put himself about. His next, and season-long, task is to keep himself fit and show he can see games out. He has completed 90 minutes on just 14 occasions over the past two seasons.

This fortnight will have been extremely valuable for Calvert-Lewin to build up his fitness and his understanding of what the manager is asking of him. Applying this in game by showing his attacking efficiency and eye for goal - or at least, his threat of scoring - will be one step towards convincing doubters about his presence at Leeds.

Jaka Bijol

Bijol has yet to feature for Leeds in the Premier League this season, with his opening day suspension having a knock-on effect. Having picked up a red card in the last game of Udinese's season in Italy, and thereby acquiring a one-game ban, Pascal Struijk was picked and played well against Everton.

Given Bijol had not played much later on in pre-season as a result of his suspension, Farke opted to stick with Struijk at centre-back against Arsenal. Bijol perhaps unsurprisingly looked rusty against Sheffield Wednesday in the cup and it was not a shock to see Struijk chosen again for Newcastle.

However, with Struijk not selected for intentional duty over the last fortnight but Bijol playing twice for Slovenia, the roles could reverse. Bijol needs Premier League minutes before too long and he might be able to keep Fulham's attackers at bay with game time now under his belt.

Daniel James

James has improved in recent outings but is still yet to excite too much. He was the most productive attacker against Arsenal, though this was out of a bad bunch. In truth, he has not looked at top tilt since coming back for pre-season.

Whether his hamstring injury towards the end of last season, the new change in formation or simply the step back up to Premier League level, James has struggled to impact and sway the attacking verve so far.

He will have his work cut out against either Ryan Sessegnon or Antonee Robinson at left-back at Fulham but, frankly, he has got to put in a showing that convinces onlookers that his place in the starting XI is not at risk. If United had got that extra winger in before deadline day, it would have certainly been on the line.



https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/four-leeds-united-players-who-32428522

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Fulham midfielder explains Norway's new approach to games
Norway are on the verge of making history as it pushes towards qualification for the 2026 World Cup in North America. It has been more than twenty years since they last appeared at the global tournament, and the current generation of players has reignited hope that the long wait may finally come to an end. For supporters, the dream of seeing their country compete on football's grandest stage once again now feels closer than ever.

The Norwegian side currently finds itself in a promising position within its qualification group. With a comfortable lead over rivals such as Israel and Italy, they are in contention for an automatic qualification spot, which would eliminate the uncertainty of play-offs. This favourable standing has been built on consistent performances and a growing sense of belief within the squad, fuelled by a mixture of experienced internationals and emerging talents who are playing key roles at club level in some of Europe's strongest leagues.

A New Mentality Driving Norway Forward
What makes this campaign different from previous unsuccessful qualification attempts is not merely the presence of top-level players but the mentality within the team. Norway have often produced talented individuals, yet the results in past years have been undermined by inconsistency and pressure in decisive matches. This time, however, there appears to be a greater sense of calmness and collective determination.

The squad has adopted an approach centred on focusing on each game rather than being weighed down by expectations or mathematical calculations about goals and points. This renewed perspective has enabled them to handle crucial fixtures with greater composure, leading to results that have kept them at the top end of their group.

Sander Berge on the Change
Fulham midfielder Sander Berge, an integral part of the national side, provided insight into the team's mentality. Speaking to Nettavisen, he explained, "The group has become much stronger and does not stress out in the run-up to international matches. That often results in good performances. We do not focus on what is required and how many goals you have to have. The most important thing is to win."

Berge's comments highlight the growing maturity of the squad, emphasising that unity and a clear mindset are proving just as important as technical ability. If Norway can maintain this consistency, it may finally end its two-decade absence from the World Cup and take its place alongside the world's best in 2026.



https://www.footballnorge.com/posts/fulham-midfielder-explains-norways-new-approach-to-games/

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Harry Wilson could still play for Leeds United this season as Fulham stance emerges
It felt like the end of the world to a lot of Leeds United fans when the news of Harry Wilson's move to Elland Road fell through on deadline day. Frustration had boiled over, for many.

Leeds are light in attack. Daniel Farke urged Leeds to sign one or two more after the 0-0 draw against Newcastle, and it seemed Leeds had settled on Wilson. Versatile, able to play as a 10, good at set-pieces.

Many were calling for a striker but a move for Wilson made sense. But as we all know, Fulham chose to pull the plug because they could not agree a deal for Tyrique George. Now, George remains at Chelsea.

Fans are worried because Farke said Leeds would be in danger of relegation without attacking signings. Frustrated, because Wilson looked in the bag, and exasperated after many failed transfer pursuits.

Rodrigo Muniz, Facundo Buonanotte, Igor Paixao, probably more that did not reach the public domain. However, there is still a chance to change all of that, and after his display for Wales, Leeds will be keen.

Harry Wilson could still play for Leeds United this season
Wilson's set-piece genius proved decisive for Wales in Kazakhstan, Kieffer Moore scoring a crucial goal in a 1-0 win away from home in World Cup qualifying. But it was Wilson's free-kick that caused havoc.

Leeds' interest in Wilson is not going to subside in the space of a few months and if anything, by the time we get to January, the chances are that Leeds' interest will have increased. Wilson's desire to go, too.

With Kevin and Samuel Chukwueze joining, it feels like Wilson will have fallen down the pecking order. Robbie Evans said Wilson was keen on a move to Leeds and partly signed the late deal sheet submitted.

Now, The Sunday Mirror (07/09, page 67) say that Wilson remains available to leave Fulham in January. That is because Wilson is in the final year of his deal. If he does not sign a new deal, he can join Leeds.

It is a no-brainer, Leeds have to sign Wilson as soon as possible
By the time we reach January, Leeds will know better where they find themselves in the Premier League. But realistically, there will be more losses and draws than wins by the time January comes into play.

Leeds will need dynamism, a new spark, more weaponry in attack, and Wilson not only provides that, but adds something extra. Something Adam Underwood has gone the entire summer without replacing.

A set-piece specialist. Leeds have spent £108.5m on 10 players, nine of whom are over 6ft, to prove more effective from set-pieces and yet, not signed a free-kick taker. Joe Rothwell has gone, Leeds need Wilson.



https://www.leedsunited.news/transfers/harry-wilson-could-still-play-for-leeds-united-this-season-as-fulhams-january-stance-emerges/