Friday Fulham Stuff - 04/09/26...

[WhiteJC]

Manager phone call dashed Fulham's hopes of transfer – Player also rejected Aston Villa move
Fikayo Tomori was linked with moves to Fulham and Aston Villa over the past few weeks. The player has now been reinstated into the AC Milan project.

For weeks, that wasn't the case. Ruben Amorim excluded him from the squad for the first two Serie A games. It was clear he was out of his plans and this had led to the player looking for a new club.

Sport Witness covered Aston Villa enquiries for his signature. Late in the window, Fulham stepped forward and tried to sign him on a favourable deal.

Some background has now emerged on how the U-turn regarding his Milan situation came about.

Amorim made key phone call
Gazzetta dello Sport report Tomori has been working hard while training alone in the past few weeks. Despite that, he did encourage his agents to find a new club.

That is why his entourage was in London and negotiations with Fulham followed. But conditions weren't there to find an agreement. The London club couldn't agree personal terms with Tomori and faced issues agreeing a deal with Milan too.

Aston Villa's move met a similar fate not too long ago. Tomori rejected the idea of a transfer to Birmingham, somewhat indicating a desire to stay at the Rossoneri.

Once a move to Fulham fell through, Amorim personally called the Englishman about the desire to reinstate him into the project. Tomori was the first to know and the club's upper management shared Amorim's desire.

Milan now believe the 28-year-old will add much-needed depth to their squad. There are no regrets that he didn't find a new club.

Player may not regret decision
On deadline day, it emerged that Milan's Matteo Gabbia will miss the next few weeks due to injury. That is why they tried to sign Tiago Gabriel but missed out on him too.

Tomori could have added much-needed depth to the Fulham squad too. Staying at Milan guarantees him European football, which he wasn't going to get in London.



https://sportwitness.co.uk/manager-phone-call-dashed-fulhams-hopes-of-transfer-player-also-rejected-aston-villa-move/

[WhiteJC]

FPL Scout: Timo leading the way for Fulham points
Fulham have teamed up with Fantasy Football Scout to help bring you hints, tips and advice during the 2026/27 Fantasy Premier League (FPL) season.

Scout will be using their expertise to provide advice and gameweek tips which should prove useful in ensuring you win your mini-leagues.

Joachim Andersen (£5.0m) returned to the Fulham starting XI in Gameweek 2. The defender had missed Gameweek 1 through suspension. Many FPL managers will have bypassed the Fulham defender when selecting their Gameweek 1 squads, as he wasn't available for the opening fixture.

However, last season Andersen registered 123 FPL points in 33 appearances. This tally was more than anyone else in the current Fulham squad. Andersen's FPL pedigree makes him one to watch in the coming weeks, especially for managers thinking about playing their first Wildcard.



Timothy Castagne (£4.5m) was Fulham's top scoring player in Gameweek 2. The defender was substituted ahead of the Sunderland goal, meaning that he still registered the four FPL points for keeping a clean sheet. Castagne has now registered back-to-back six-point returns in FPL in the opening two weeks.

Josh King (£5.5m) and Gonzalo García (£6.0m) both came close to registering attacking returns for Fulham and their FPL owners. Gonzalo registered three attempts on goal, with King just one behind on two.

Budget friendly Shea Charles (£5.0m) also had two shots against the Black Cats in Gameweek 2 and looks like the best £5.0m midfielder pick in the game.

Since Gameweek 2, Fulham have added several new recruits to their roster. Manuel Ángel, Hugo Larsson and David Affengruber all signed on Transfer Deadline Day and will be ones to watch for FPL managers in the coming weeks.



Gameweek 3 opponents

Fulham face Crystal Palace in Gameweek 3. Palace have lost both of their opening fixtures.

Adam Wharton (£5.5m) and Yeremy Pino (£5.5m) are Palace's top scoring FPL players so far this season. Wharton registered Defensive Contribution points in Gameweek 1, whilst Pino returned an assist in Gameweek 2.

Popular FPL Picks

Rayan Cherki (£7.7m) came off the bench in Gameweek 1 and registered two assists for Manchester City. He followed this with two goals and three bonus points in Gameweek 2 after he started in midfield for the Manchester side. The midfielder has already risen in price twice since the Gameweek 1 deadline passed.

Newcastle duo Yoane Wissa (£6.1m) and Anthony Elanga (£6.1m) are both proving popular transfers in with FPL managers. The pair both registered eight points in Gameweek 2's win over Spurs, courtesy of them both scoring a goal.

Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes (£12.0m) rewarded the 1.7million managers who captained him with a 23-point FPL haul in Gameweek 2. His 23-point return was doubled to 46-points for those who gave him the armband. 34,000 managers Triple Captained Fernandes meaning that he registered 69 points for them.



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2026/september/03/fpl-scout-timothy-castagne-leading-the-way-for-fulham-points/

[WhiteJC]

Report: Canadian defender de Fougerolles joining Real Salt Lake on loan from Fulham
It appears Luc de Fougerolles is headed to the MLS.

According to Tom Bogert of The Athletic, de Fougerolles is joining Real Salt Lake on loan from Fulham.

The move for the 20-year-old Canadian centreback comes after he appeared in all five Canada's games at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

De Fougerolles spent last season with FC Dender in Belgium, appearing in 30 games across all competitions.

A native of London, de Fougerolles was eligible to play for Canada through his Canadian father.



https://www.tsn.ca/soccer/mls/article/report-canadian-defender-de-fougerolles-joining-real-salt-lake-on-loan-from-fulham/

[WhiteJC]

Alex Iwobi can make Premier League history with Fulham against Crystal Palace
Alex Iwobi is one Premier League appearance away from joining a tiny group of players who have made at least 100 appearances for three different clubs, Soccernet.ng reports.

The Fulham midfielder has played 99 league games for the London club after appearing in the opening two matches of the 2026-27 season.

If Iwobi plays against Crystal Palace at Craven Cottage on Saturday, September 5, he will reach 100 Premier League appearances for Fulham. That would give him 100 for Arsenal, 123 for Everton and 100 for Fulham, putting him alongside four players who have already achieved the rare feat.

The names in that group tell the story of how difficult the achievement is. Gareth Barry, Rory Delap, Gary Speed and James Milner all built long careers across several Premier League clubs before reaching triple figures with three of them. Iwobi is now one game from joining them.

Born in Lagos, Iwobi joined Arsenal at six, moved through the club's age groups and broke into Arsene Wenger's first team before becoming a regular Premier League player. His career then took him from north London to Everton and back to London with Fulham.

The Premier League record makers

Gareth Barry
Barry set the standard for this group during a remarkable Premier League career that lasted from 1998 to 2020. He made his league debut for Aston Villa against Sheffield Wednesday on May 2, 1998, aged 17 years and 67 days.

His Villa career produced 365 Premier League appearances. He then played 132 games for Manchester City, 131 for Everton and four for West Bromwich Albion. His three 100-plus club totals came with Villa, City and Everton. Across his Premier League career, Barry played 653 matches.

Barry's time at Everton also provides an interesting link with Iwobi. Barry left the club in 2017, two years before Iwobi moved to Goodison Park from Arsenal.

Rory Delap
Delap's journey was built around several clubs and a reputation for one of football's most dangerous long throws. His Premier League career included Derby County, Southampton, Sunderland and Stoke City.

He made 103 Premier League appearances for Derby, 116 for Southampton and 134 for Stoke. Those numbers put him well beyond the 100-game mark at three clubs. His Premier League career finished with 359 appearances and 23 goals.

Gary Speed
Speed reached the milestone before Milner and became one of the Premier League's most respected midfielders. He played for Leeds United, Everton, Newcastle United and Bolton Wanderers during a career that produced 535 Premier League appearances.

His club totals were 143 games for Leeds, 58 for Everton, 213 for Newcastle and 121 for Bolton. His three 100-plus totals came with Leeds, Newcastle and Bolton.

Speed's Newcastle chapter began after Kenny Dalglish signed him from Everton in 1998. He played 213 league matches at St James' Park before moving to Bolton in 2004.

James Milner
Milner became the fourth player to achieve the feat when Liverpool beat Leicester City 2-1 in September 2018. He already had 100 Premier League appearances for Aston Villa and 100 for Manchester City when he reached his Liverpool century.

His career later became even more extraordinary. Milner played for Leeds, Newcastle, Villa, Manchester City, Liverpool and Brighton, eventually setting the Premier League appearance record at 658 before retiring in 2026.

His first Premier League appearance came for Leeds against West Ham United in November 2002, when he was only 16 years old. He also became the competition's youngest scorer at the time when he scored against Sunderland on Boxing Day that year.

Alex Iwobi
Iwobi's story started much earlier than his Premier League career suggests. Arsenal picked him up at six, and he progressed through the academy before Wenger gave him his senior debut in the League Cup at the start of the 2015-16 season. Four days later, he made his Premier League debut in Arsenal's 3-0 win at Swansea City.

He spent four seasons in Arsenal's senior setup and finished his league career there with 100 appearances, 11 goals and 17 assists. His performances helped him move from promising academy graduate to established first-team player.

Everton then paid about £34 million to sign him in August 2019. He spent four seasons on Merseyside and made 123 Premier League appearances, scoring six goals and providing 11 assists. His final Everton season, 2022-23, was particularly important because he started all 38 league matches.

Fulham signed Iwobi on September 1, 2023, giving him a contract until the summer of 2028. He quickly became an important part of the midfield and has now reached 99 Premier League appearances for the club.

The numbers give Iwobi 322 Premier League appearances across Arsenal, Everton and Fulham.

One more appearance at Craven Cottage against Crystal Palace and Iwobi will join Barry, Delap, Speed and Milner as the fifth player to make 100 Premier League appearances for three different clubs.



https://soccernet.ng/2026/09/alex-iwobi-epl-fulham-crystl-palace-barry.html

[WhiteJC]

FFCW continue their great start with a convincing 5-0 win
Fulham Women continue their 100% start to the latest campaign.

That's three league wins from three. You couldn't have asked for more from Fulham Women who have made the perfect start to an important season.

A gutsy hard-fought home win against Portsmouth, the pre-season favourites. Another good league win away at Real Bedford followed by a win away in the cup at Actonians. And this weekend Fulham Women won their second home game of the season comfortably - and in some style.

While we can't compare xG, momentum, possession, total passes etc in Tier 3 of the women's game, what we can say is that Plymouth Argyle didn't have a shot at goal throughout in Fulham's 5-0 victory on Sunday. The Pilgrims spent the second half trying to protect a five-goal deficit from getting any worse.

Last year Plymouth finished second in the Tier 3 table and narrowly missed out on a place in the Women's Super League after losing in the play-off. The defeat cost them an opportunity for meaningful progression and marked the start of some material funding cuts that saw all player contracts axed, and the ensuing departure of the vast majority of their senior squad and manager Marie Hourihan. It was a much younger and less cohesive team that made the long trip from Devon to Motspur Park last weekend.

We can't draw too many conclusions after just three games, but it is looking increasingly like Fulham Women are finding their feet in this league. The difference in standard between the teams towards the top of the table and those at the bottom is becoming clear, making matches against top teams all the more important.

Fulham's opening day win against Portsmouth - the only fully professional team in the division - looks like the key result of the season so far. Fulham sit second in the table, one of three teams to maintain their 100% record at the weekend. Oxford are still top on goal difference with Bournemouth sitting below Fulham in third.

But there's a long way to go. Fulham have a series of away matches to come in September including a difficult local derby against AFC Wimbledon (currently sixth in the league). They then face Exeter at home (fifth) at the start of October before an away trip to Bournemouth in what could be a crucial game.

Sunday's game also marked Fulham's fiftieth (50th!) undefeated league match. Fifty matches straight unbeaten. Remarkable, even more so when you consider the amount of change that has happened in the team as it has developed over the past three years. The squad, manager Steve Jaye and his coaching team deserve great credit. If it's not tempting fate... long may the run continue.

The high standard fans have come to expect from Fulham was on display at the weekend. Fulham raced to a 3-0 lead within 20 minutes. The first was the pick of the goals. A great header inside the post from new signing Rianna Dean following an Olivia Dale cross. Goals from Charlie Estcourt and Anna Grey followed with the Plymouth goalkeeper looking vulnerable and unable to hold onto shots.

Charlie Estcourt then made it four from close range following great play down the left wing. She deserved Player of the Match. Always busy, industrious and providing a crucial link between midfield and attack. She takes the ball on the half-turn like Josh King - no higher praise.

The fifth goal followed just before half time. A great long ball down the right wing from Harley Bennett and Sophie Gillies followed in for her third goal of the season.

The crowd was left at half time wondering far this was going to go. But Plymouth decided to stick not twist and adopted the lowest of low blocks with five at the back fighting hard to keep the score line down. They barely seemed to touch the ball in the first ten minutes of the second half. The crowd at Motspur Park was too polite to shout olé at every pass from Fulham as they went from left to right and back again, but it had become that kind of game. Both sides made multiple substitutions and for once Ellie Olds came on without scoring and we were forced to settle for five.

It is clear that the new signings over the summer have all improved the standard of play. The team is quicker and there are signs that the group is starting to click. Unlike Plymouth, Fulham are thankfully benefitting from good backing from the club. Our move to player contracts over the summer looks to have been the key step. We can reward and retain our best players and attract quality new signings from this level and above. The future is looking bright.

The men's team might have the Spanish manager and the budding Real Madrid Galácticos, but it is the women's team who are playing the olé football at the moment.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/p/ffcw-continue-their-great-start-with

[WhiteJC]

Introducing the Originals Collection

The Club is delighted to unveil its new adidas Originals Collection, available to purchase online and in store now.

Our bespoke adidas range contains eight brand new lifestyle pieces that are made to be worn everyday by supporters.

Including t-shirts, track jackets, tracksuit bottoms & more, each piece features the iconic heritage 'FFC' crest and the famous adidas Originals Trefoil logo. The collection follows the release of the 2026/27 Away Kit that also features the same crest and badge of sport.

The Originals Collection was modelled by Gonzalo García, Ryan Sessegnon, Sander Berge & Bernd Leno from our Men's First Team and Charlie Estcourt & Rianna Dean from our Women's First Team.

Secure your favourite pieces from the collection online at shop.fulhamfc.com or from our Stadium Store at Craven Cottage now.

SHOP NOW

All items are subject to availability.



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2026/september/03/introducing-the-originals-collection/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham vs. Crystal Palace: Head-to-head record and past meetings ahead of Premier League clash
Craven Cottage will play host to an interesting Premier League contest on Saturday afternoon, as Fulham welcome Crystal Palace.

Both teams have started their 2026-27 Premier League campaigns with successive losses; Fulham have been beaten by Chelsea and Sunderland, while Palace have lost to Everton and Manchester City.

There is already pressure on both managers to deliver a positive result due to the unforgiving nature of England's top flight.

Fulham will have home advantage on Saturday afternoon, and there were positives to take from their last game in front of their own fans, which was a 3-0 success over AFC Wimbledon in the EFL Cup.

Sunderland, on the other hand, were beaten at Ipswich in their only away league game this season.

Here, Sports Mole rounds up the head-to-head record and past meetings between the two sides ahead of their contest at Craven Cottage in gameweek three of the 2026-27 Premier League campaign.

Head-to-head record

Previous meetings: 56

Fulham wins: 19

Draws: 20

Crystal Palace wins: 17

Fulham and Crystal Palace have met 56 times in competitive football, with the Cottagers holding a slender advantage in the overall head-to-head, having recorded 19 victories to Palace's 17, while 20 encounters have finished level.

Their most recent meeting took place on New Year's Day 2026, when the clubs shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw at Selhurst Park. Jean-Philippe Mateta opened the scoring shortly before half time, though the Eagles were unable to hold out for the win.

Marco Silva's Cottagers missed a number of chances and even struck the woodwork through Raul Jimenez, before captain Tom Cairney came off the bench to equalise late on with a brilliant half-volley.

That stalemate extended Palace's unbeaten run to four matches in this fixture, but it also means that they have now gone five games without a win against Fulham at Selhurst Park (D3, L2), only scoring once in these meetings.

Their first two clashes took place back in February 1907 when Crystal Palace won 1-0 on home soil in a FA Cup second-round replay after both teams played out a goalless stalemate at Craven Cottage in their first encounter.

Both teams then butted heads on eight occasions in the old Division Two between 1921 and 1925, with Crystal Palace winning the first of those before losing four and drawing three with Fulham.

Eight more fixtures in Division Three (South) followed between 1928 and 1932, with Fulham losing four of their first five meetings, including 4-3 and 5-2 away defeats in 1930, before winning two of their next three, including a comfortable 4-0 home win in January 1932.

Fulham then enjoyed a 20-year period of dominance over Crystal Palace, as they won nine, drew nine and lost just three games out of 21 across all competitions between 1966 and 1986. The Cottagers then won three out of four (D1) meetings in the second tier in 1999-2000 and 2000-01, but Palace's fortunes have turned slightly in the Premier League era (since 1992-93).

Indeed, Palace have won six times compared to Fulham's four across their 15 top-flight encounters. The Eagles won three PL games in a row by an aggregate score of 6-1 between August 2018 and October 2020, but Fulham then enjoyed a six-game unbeaten run against Palace (W2 D4).

Fulham's most recent win over Palace was a 2-0 success at Selhurst Park in November 2024, but the Eagles got their revenge in February 2025 as they won by the same scoreline at Craven Cottage, before also roaring to a 3-0 FA Cup quarter-final victory a few weeks later.

Last 20 meetings
Jan 01, 2026: Crystal Palace 1-1 Fulham (Premier League)

Dec 06, 2025: Fulham 1-2 Crystal Palace (Premier League)

Mar 29, 2025: Fulham 0-3 Crystal Palace (FA Cup)

Feb 22, 2025: Fulham 0-2 Crystal Palace (Premier League)

Nov 09, 2024: Crystal Palace 0-2 Fulham (Premier League)

Apr 27, 2024: Fulham 1-1 Crystal Palace (Premier League)

Sep 23, 2023: Crystal Palace 0-0 Fulham (Premier League)

May 20, 2023: Fulham 2-2 Crystal Palace (Premier League)

Dec 26, 2022: Crystal Palace 0-3 Fulham (Premier League)

Feb 28, 2021: Crystal Palace 0-0 Fulham (Premier League)

Oct 24, 2020: Fulham 1-2 Crystal Palace (Premier League)

Feb 02, 2019: Crystal Palace 2-0 Fulham (Premier League)

Aug 11, 2018: Fulham 0-2 Crystal Palace (Premier League)

May 11, 2014: Fulham 2-2 Crystal Palace (Premier League)

Oct 21, 2013: Crystal Palace 1-4 Fulham (Premier League)

Jan 01, 2005: Fulham 3-1 Crystal Palace (Premier League)

Oct 04, 2004: Crystal Palace 2-0 Fulham (Premier League)

Mar 17, 2001: Crystal Palace 0-2 Fulham (First Division)

Oct 18, 2000: Fulham 3-1 Crystal Palace (First Division)

Apr 01, 2000: Fulham 1-0 Crystal Palace (First Division)

Last 10 Premier League meetings
Jan 01, 2026: Crystal Palace 1-1 Fulham (Premier League)

Dec 06, 2025: Fulham 1-2 Crystal Palace (Premier League)

Feb 22, 2025: Fulham 0-2 Crystal Palace (Premier League)

Nov 09, 2024: Crystal Palace 0-2 Fulham (Premier League)

Apr 27, 2024: Fulham 1-1 Crystal Palace (Premier League)

Sep 23, 2023: Crystal Palace 0-0 Fulham (Premier League)

May 20, 2023: Fulham 2-2 Crystal Palace (Premier League)

Dec 26, 2022: Crystal Palace 0-3 Fulham (Premier League)

Feb 28, 2021: Crystal Palace 0-0 Fulham (Premier League)

Oct 24, 2020: Fulham 1-2 Crystal Palace (Premier League)



https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/fulham/head-to-head/fulham-vs-crystal-palace-head-to-head-record-and-past-meetings_566146.html

[WhiteJC]

Games for the Weekend – 05/09
This weekend we welcome Crystal Palace to the Cottage for a 3 o'clock Saturday kick off.

Shall we put the Sunderland game down as a bad day at the office?
We signed three players on deadline day, Hugo Larsson, Manuel Ángel and David Affengruber, two midfielders and a defender.
Larsson (22) is an initial loan with a permanent option
Ángel (22), another from Real Madrid, has signed a three year deal with a club option of a further year.
Affengruber (25) is on a four year deal with a club option of a further year.
Surprisingly(?) we didn't loose anyone, Kenny Tete having been heavily tipped to join Everton.
It has been reported, no confirmation at time of writing, that Luc de Fougerolles will be going to Real Salt Lake on a season lone.

Palace also have zero points, I'm sure they think they'll come away with some this weekend, and are a couple of places below us on goal difference, -5 to our -2, we both need to improve.
Like ourselves Palace also have a new manager and have lost two of their best players, Lacroix and Munoz so it will be interesting to see which team adjusts to their circumstance soonest.

Our record against Palace in the 56 games we've played is quite even with 19 wins, 17 losses and 20 draws.

My team would be...



COYW's

Games of Interest
Friday 4th
Ipswich v Liverpool

Saturday 5th
Brentford v Sunderland
Forest v Spurs
Hull v Villa

Sunday 6th
Arsenal v Chelsea
come on over to the forum and join in the conversation...
https://www.friendsoffulham.com/forum/index.php?board=3



https://www.friendsoffulham.com/wordpress/?p=3682

[WhiteJC]

QPR FC Women face Fulham Ladies in the cup
FULHAM Ladies are the opposition on Sunday 6th September, with kick-off at 2pm.

The R's secured a late winner against MK Dons Women in the FA Women's National League Division One South East last weekend, and will look to build on that brilliant performance in Sunday's London derby in the cup.

Supporters can find ticketing information below to join us on Sunday to support the R's, with tickets available online and at the turnstiles.

Prices for this fixture are as follows:

    Adults (£5)
    Concessions (£3)
    2-7 Accompanied (£1)

Follow the instructions below to book your tickets:

    CLICK HERE
    to secure your tickets (max 6 tickets per account)
    Unreserved seating at SkyEx Community Stadium – please assign the price class to each ticket (Adults £5, Concessions £3, 2-7 Accompanied £1) and proceed
    Go to your basket, ensuring you sign in/create your QPR Club Account
    Proceed to checkout and you will then receive your digital ticket voucher via email. Please show this on the day.

If you require any help in creating your QPR Club Account please follow the guide HERE or contact boxoffice@qpr.co.uk.

Come and support the R's this weekend in their London derby cup tie!

Full address: SkyEx Community Stadium, Beaconsfield Road, Hayes, UB4 0SL.



https://www.qpr.co.uk/news/2026/september/03/qpr-fc-women-fulham-ladies/

[WhiteJC]

Asking Real Madrid Castilla Experts, Who is Manuel Angel?
The signings of Hugo Larsson and David Affengruber were the marquee names Fulham brought in on deadline day, and subsequently, the signing of our third La Fabrica graduate, Manuel Angel, has gone under the radar.

After speaking to Real Madrid Castilla experts, @InsideCastilla on X, I'm here to inform you on who Fulham's latest Spanish talent is.

Manuel Angel's Backstory & Why He Has Only Made Seven First Team Appearances
After joining the La Fabrica ranks from Sevilla in 2018, coaches across Real Madrid youth circles commended the man nicknamed 'Mami's' combination of talent and tireless work rate as one that would take him right to the very top.

After impressing at the U19 Euros with Spain, Ángel quickly became one of the most crucial assets in the La Fabrica youth system. Subsequently, the 22-year-old became Castilla captain and was seen as a player crucial to Castilla's promotion push last season.

This was one of the factors in him not receiving more first team football on loan or for the first team last season. That, the meteoric rise of former Fulham target Thiago Pitarch, and some injury setbacks led to Angel receiving just seven senior appearances last season.

Sam from Inside Castilla pointed out that Angel's current path is nothing out of the ordinary: ''Most players enter the set-up at 19 (the final academy age-group), spend an average of two season's with the team before "graduating" onto their individual career paths.

He (Angel) should be happy with 7 Real Madrid first team appearances, all coming last season – a strong return for any promising Castilla player.''

How Does Angel Play & How Will He Fit in This Fulham Team?
In Berge, Charles, and Larsson, Fulham have three physical midfielders, but the addition of Mami adds a different type of midfielder to this Fulham team.

Diminutive, energetic, technically superb, and very intelligent in possession, Angel's press resistance, energy in the press, and ability to create from deep is something this Fulham team really lacks.

Inside Castilla's Hridyam pointed out Angel's biggest strength: ''His biggest strength is his relentlessness in terms of work rate as well as mentality. If he messes up, it doesn't make him overthink his next decision. He always wants to make something positive happen.''

Does that not sound like something we need in a rather pedestrian Fulham midfield?

Sam from Inside Castilla portrayed where he may fit in this Fulham team: ''He operates very well as an eight or double-pivot alongside a more defensive/physically stronger Sander Berge type player, but can be deployed anywhere in midfield.

He suits Álvaro Arbeloa's system very well.''

What Player Would You Compare Mami to?
Sam drew a comparison to former PSG and Italy midfielder Marco Verratti: ''He at times reminds me of Marco Verratti in terms of his stature, his ability to manipulate the ball in such tight spaces and his surprising levels of aggression when required.''

ridyam compared the Spanish starlet to Champions League winner, Vitinha: ''It is difficult to narrow him down to one, but talking strictly in terms of the way he plays and not his actual level, his link-up play nhi and off-ball movement are quite similar to Vitinha.

He loves moving around after short passes, which is something Vitinha excels at.''

Is Angel Ready for Premier League football?
After just seven senior appearances for the Los Blancos first team, it's a fair question ask if Manuel Angel can handle the physical trials and tribulations of regular top flight football, but I'll leave it to Sam to speak on why he believes 'Mami' is more ready for Premier League football than a man many Fulham fans (including myself) were clamouring to have at Craven Cottage.

''Thiago Pitarch (a player I believe was linked to Fulham previously) is a similar player and gets a lot of the acclamation, but I actually think Manuel Ángel is the slightly better player (not three years better developmentally speaking, mind you), and is certainly more ready for an opportunity to play at top level.

Yes, he will be ready, but he will need to be eased in.''

Hridyam added: ''Yes (he is ready). People will rightfully show worrying signs about Manuel Ángel's physicality, but he does use it quite well, and is a very intelligent midfielder.

He will do well at Fulham, although he might need a little bit of patience as he tries to adapt to the league.''



https://medium.com/@LondonsOriginal/asking-real-madrid-castilla-experts-who-is-manuel-angel-3c2c6227acdf

[WhiteJC]

Fulham vs Crystal Palace: Preview and Prediction
Fulham and Crystal Palace will be desperate for their first points in the 2026/27 Premier League season when they face off at Craven Cottage on Saturday.

Gameweek 3 of the 2026/27 Premier League season will continue on Saturday with seven games. The action on Saturday begins with the game between Newcastle United and Bournemouth at St. James' Park before continuing with five simultaneous ties, including Fulham vs Crystal Palace at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Fulham had to brace for a period of transition after Marco Silva called time on his stint at Craven Cottage to move to SL Benfica during the off-season. Alvaro Arbeloa has since assumed charge, and while the Cottagers have made an impression, they have yet to secure a single point in two Premier League outings after losing 3-2 to Chelsea in Gameweek 1 and Sunderland 1-0 last week.

However, they have one win under Arbeloa, having beaten Wimbledon 3-0 in the EFL Cup second round. Meanwhile, the story is not too dissimilar at Crystal Palace, as Oliver Glasner ended his illustrious stint at Selhurst Park to move across the Premier League by joining Nottingham Forest.

Pierre Sage took over at the helm in the summer, and the squad has started absorbing the French tactician's methods. However, the Eagles have scored only once in two Premier League games thus far while suffering heavy defeats to Everton and Manchester City. So, Sage has some work to do before Palace can make a bid for European qualification this term.

The corresponding fixture last season ended in a hard-fought 2-1 win for Crystal Palace, with Marc Guehi scoring a late winner. The Hard Tackle looks closer at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.

Team News & Tactics

Fulham
Alvaro Arbeloa has no new injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side's latest fixture. The Fulham head coach will be bereft of the services of only two first-team players vs Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Luc De Fougerolles and Tom Cairney remain in the treatment room due to their knee injuries, though the former should return before the international break. Meanwhile, Arbeloa can call up new signings after David Affengruber, Hugo Larsson, and Manuel Angel completed deadline-day moves to Craven Cottage. However, the trio may only make their debuts off the bench.

Bernd Leno is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Fulham lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Crystal Palace on Saturday. The backline will feature Timothy Castagne, Joachim Andersen, Calvin Bassey, and Antonee Robinson.

As for the midfield unit, Shea Charles should line up alongside Sander Berge in the double pivot, with Joshua King reprising the no. 10 role. Finally, the in-form Gonzalo Garcia will lead the line for the home side, with Cesar Palacios and Alex Iwobi completing the numbers in the offensive unit. The wide duo will often take up central positions, creating room for the full-backs to overlap.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Berge, Charles; Iwobi, King, Palacios; Garcia

Crystal Palace
Like his counterpart in the Fulham dugout, Pierre Sage has no new issues to worry about ahead of the trip to Craven Cottage. The Crystal Palace head coach should be without three first-team players on Saturday.

The unsettled duo of Ismaila Sarr (match fitness) and Jean-Philippe Mateta (hamstring) are the most notable absentees. While the latter remains in the treatment room alongside Chadi Riad (knee), the former needs to build up fitness before returning as a starter, having not trained regularly during the transfer saga involving Liverpool and, briefly, Galatasaray.

Dean Henderson, another player who invited speculation around his future late in the summer transfer window, is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Crystal Palace lining up in a 3-4-3 formation in front of him vs Fulham on Saturday. The central defensive unit will feature Jaydee Canvot, Chris Richards, and Takehiro Tomiyasu. Meanwhile, Anan Khalaili and Tyrick Mitchell are automatic picks as the two wing-backs.

The wide duo will provide width in the final third and protect the three centre-backs during the defensive phases. As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Daichi Kamada and Adam Wharton in the central areas. Finally, Jorgen Strand Larsen will spearhead the Crystal Palace attack this weekend, with Eddie Nketiah and Yeremy Pino on the wings.

Probable Lineup (3-4-3): Henderson; Canvot, Richards, Tomiyasu; Khalaili, Kamada, Wharton, Mitchell; Yeremy Pino, Strand Larsen, Nketiah

Key Stats

    Fulham have won just two of their last 13 Premier League matches vs Crystal Palace (D6 L5), with both wins coming at Selhurst Park in 2022/23 and 2024/25. The Eagles lost their first away Premier League game at Fulham in 2004/05 but have since been unbeaten in seven at Craven Cottage (W4 D3).
    Fulham will aim to avoid losing three successive Premier League London derbies for the first time since April 2023, after losing 3-0 to Arsenal in May and 3-2 at home to Chelsea in Gameweek 1 this season.
    Crystal Palace have won six of their last ten away London derby matches in the Premier League (D3 L1), as many as they had in their previous 44 (D15 L23).
    Fulham have lost 3-2 to Chelsea and 1-0 to Sunderland this season. Only in 1951/52 and 2020/21 have they lost each of their first three games in a top-flight campaign, being relegated on both occasions. Meanwhile, after defeat to Manchester City last time out, Crystal Palace are hoping to avoid losing their opening three Premier League matches of a campaign for the first time since 2017/18.
    Pierre Sage has lost both of his opening two Premier League games in charge of the club. Never before in his managerial career has he lost three successive league games.

Player to Watch

Gonzalo Garcia
While Sander Berge, Eddie Nketiah, and Adam Wharton were viable candidates for this section, we have picked Gonzalo Garcia as the Player to Watch for Saturday's Premier League clash between Fulham and Crystal Palace at Craven Cottage.

The Spanish striker has been impressive since arriving from Real Madrid in the summer, scoring twice in three outings thus far. Meanwhile, Garcia has made 29 off-ball runs in behind opponents' defences in the Premier League this season, with only Bryan Mbeumo (39) and Kai Havertz (31) making more. With such impressive numbers, he has quickly become Alvaro Arbeloa's go-to player and the key to Fulham's success in the 2026/27 season.

Prediction

Fulham 2-2 Crystal Palace
Fulham and Crystal Palace may have zero points after two Premier League games thus far, but that is not due to a lack of attacking intent. However, both teams have a soft underbelly, which creates an atmosphere for a closely contested affair ahead of Saturday's tie at Craven Cottage.

Crystal Palace have conceded at least two goals in their last eight Premier League matches. They have never done so in nine successive matches in their league history, but all signs point towards the setting of a new record. With both teams looking vulnerable at the back while having impressive attacking potential, there may not be much to separate them this weekend.



https://thehardtackle.com/round-up/2026/09/03/fulham-vs-crystal-palace-preview-and-prediction-5/

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Fulham transfer window roundup: Arbeloa's Real Madrid raid
Álvaro Arbeloa's first transfer window in charge leads to him being reunited with three Real Madrid youngsters and a new transfer approach at Craven Cottage.

With the summer transfer window now officially closed, Fulham, as is tradition, were significantly active on deadline day and concluded their window with three new additions.

Swedish midfielder Hugo Larsson arrived from Eintracht Frankfurt for a reported fee of £25 million, while Austrian centre-back David Affengruber arrived from Elche CF in La Liga.

New manager Álvaro Arbeloa continued to use his Real Madrid contacts with the arrival of Spaniard Manuel Ángel from Los Blancos on a three-year deal.

Historically, Fulham are always busy on Deadline Day, with past arrivals on that day including Kevin, Danny Murphy, Harrison Reed and Aleksandar Mitrović.

The recent arrivals join fellow new boys Gonzalo García, César Palacios and Shea Charles.

Jonah Kusi-Asare also arrived permanently from Bayern Munich following last season's loan spell.

This transfer window saw a shift in Fulham's transfer policy. Marco Silva's preference for older, more experienced, Premier League-proven players was replaced with a new approach: targeting younger, less proven players from the continent with massive potential.

While fans have already seen García, Palacios and Charles in action, this Saturday's home game against Crystal Palace will be the chance for Larsson, Ángel and Affengruber to shine and announce themselves to Craven Cottage.

The New Boys

Gonzalo García and César Palacios
Both Gonzalo García and César Palacios are exciting players who are Real Madrid academy graduates and rose through the youth system under the guidance of a certain Arbeloa.

Across five seasons, García made 73 appearances for Castilla and contributed 30 goals. This included a prolific 2024-25 campaign where he netted a stunning 25 goals in 36 matches.

Palacios played 72 games for Castilla and notched 18 goals. Like his new Fulham teammate, he enjoyed a particularly excellent individual season. Last campaign, he scored 15 goals from midfield in 32 matches.

Both were elevated to the senior team regularly when his mentor Arbeloa took over first-team affairs following the sacking of Xabi Alonso. Fulham have reportedly paid £40 million for García's services and £10 million for Palacios.

What have they brought?
Across Fulham's first three games of the new campaign, the performances of Gonzalo García and César Palacios have been mixed.

García has notched two goals in three games - his first was a scrappy header that ricocheted into his path off Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sánchez. However, the Spaniard's situational awareness and willingness allowed him to direct a header under the bar and in.

The former Real Madrid striker then added his second goal with a superb finish against AFC Wimbledon in the Carabao Cup. Latching onto a through ball, the substitute completely outpaced the onrushing defender and confidently went around the onrushing Dons goalkeeper before slotting the ball home at a tight angle.

However, against Sunderland, Fulham's new £40 million man was physically dominated by Sunderland's defenders and was completely marked out of the game. Struggling to create runs or space in behind, he was forced to drop deep to help build play and struggled to assert his dominance on proceedings.

After a brilliant performance against VfB Stuttgart in Fulham's final pre-season game, Palacios had a mixed display in Fulham's opening match. While his interchange and link-play with García were impressive, he struggled with the physicality and rigid intensity and pressure Chelsea's full-backs put on him.

Against the Black Cats, Fulham's new number eight was very ineffective and was bullied out of the game by Sunderland's physically superior full-backs.

Even when given the ball in promising areas, Palacios' control and decision-making let him down, and he was also guilty of giving away a few schoolboy fouls, culminating in a booking.

Shea Charles
Shea Charles, a 22-year-old Northern Ireland international, joined the Cottagers on a five-year deal with a reported fee of £30 million.

Having risen through the youth ranks at Manchester City, Charles arrived on the South Coast ahead of the 2023/24 season after a single appearance for the Sky Blues.

It was under Russell Martin's guidance that Charles established himself. He flourished that season, playing 38 games in all competitions as Saints returned to the Premier League on their first attempt.

The following season, he continued to develop at Championship level with a loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday. Scoring his first professional goal along the way, the Northern Irishman was named the Owls' player of the season as Wednesday finished in a respectable 12th place.

Following Southampton's second relegation in two seasons, Charles made 38 appearances last season and enjoyed his best goal-scoring season, contributing six goals and two assists, including the winner in the FA Cup clash against Arsenal.

What has he brought?
Shea Charles has had limited opportunities to showcase his talents in the Premier League.

Against Chelsea and Sunderland, the Northern Ireland international showed his talent for roaming forward and contributing to attacks, but also his flexibility and discipline when tracking back.

However, it was against AFC Wimbledon in the Carabao Cup where he shone.

Marking his first start following his move from the South Coast, Charles faced a quiet evening as Wimbledon allowed him to enjoy time on the ball and spread Fulham's attack wide.

Completing the most passes of any player (98), the Northern Irishman contributed 15 passes into the final third and pushed higher up the field than is usually expected of Fulham's number eight.

Charles will face tougher tests, but he really breezed through this one in a promising display, which is why Arbeloa was insistent he should be the man to replace Saša Lukić.

Jonah Kusi-Asare
A consistent run in the first team has eluded Jonah Kusi-Asare since he arrived from Bayern Munich.

Only 18 when he joined, the Swedish under-21 forward only made 10 appearances in all competitions for Marco Silva's side last season, which included cameos against Manchester City and Nottingham Forest.

However, he did enjoy consistent game time with the under-21s last season, which included hitting a lovely driven left-footed strike in a 2-1 defeat at Aldershot Town.

With García and Rodrigo Muniz ahead of him in the pecking order, it looks like Kusi-Asare will have to bide his time and continue his development before being rewarded with regular football.

However, under a manager so well known and respected for trusting youth, Kusi-Asare will certainly be a part of Fulham's long-term future.

Deadline Day additions

Hugo Larsson
Fulham's revamp of their midfield continued with the acquisition of Hugo Larsson.

Capable of operating as a central midfielder or defensive midfielder, Larsson departed Eintracht Frankfurt after making 119 appearances across three seasons.

The Swedish international notched up 10 goals and five assists for the German side.

Before his exploits in Germany, the 22-year-old made 61 appearances for Swedish side Malmö.

For someone so young, he has an impressive pedigree and experience in European competitions.

During his time in Malmö, he made four Champions League appearances and played nine times in the Europa League.

Across those three seasons, Larsson played in all three European competitions, culminating last season with seven appearances in the Champions League.

Another achievement to bolster his CV is his six appearances for the Sweden men's national football team.

What will he bring?
Larsson is a dynamic, tall central or defensive midfielder who is known for his ball progression, composure under pressure, and high work rate.

According to Total Football Analysis, he often "drops deep near the defence to receive the first pass, acting as a press-resistant controller who transitions play smoothly."

Standing at 6'2", he combines "physical presence with powerful running to break lines and carry the ball forward."

He is then able to excel at "short, crisp distribution and intelligent through-balls rather than high-volume long-ball spraying."

The arrivals of Larsson and Charles put the positions of Sander Berge and Alex Iwobi under renewed scrutiny and the spotlight, as Arbeloa seeks to mould his midfield in his own image.

David Affengruber
Fulham finally found a replacement for the departed Issa Diop with the transfer of Austrian international David Affengruber.

Fulham's new right-sided centre-back will arrive hoping to dislodge Joachim Andersen from the starting 11.

Affengruber was signed from La Liga side Elche, where he made 84 appearances across two seasons and the first three games of this campaign.

Also able to play as a defensive midfielder, Affengruber began his career seven seasons ago in his homeland with FC Liefering.

After playing 51 games for Liefering, Affengruber moved across Austria to join Salzburg but found chances hard to come by.

After just six appearances for Salzburg, the 25-year-old moved southeast to Sturm Graz.

Establishing himself as one of the first names on the team sheet, Fulham's latest recruit enjoyed 126 games across a successful three-year stint between 2021 and 2024 before moving to Spain.

What will he bring?
Affengruber is very much a contemporary, ball-playing centre-back who relies on high composure, tactical intelligence, and clean passing rather than raw physical dominance.

Suited to Arbeloa's high-press, build-from-the-back, possession-reliant style of play, Affengruber is calm under pressure and prefers to start attacks rather than clear the ball blindly.

The battle between the new boy and Andersen will be extremely fascinating. Since rejoining Fulham in 2024, Andersen has virtually been ever-present despite some questionable performances and the fact that his traits don't particularly work alongside Calvin Bassey.

Manuel Ángel
Manuel Ángel becomes the third Real Madrid player to follow former Castilla boss Arbeloa to the banks of the Thames.

At only 22 years old, Ángel was reportedly secured by Fulham for approximately £3 million to £4 million, with Real Madrid retaining a 50% sell-on or rights clause.

Similar to Palacios, Ángel has limited first-team experience, although he did feature seven times for Madrid last season under the tutelage of Arbeloa.

It was in Madrid's Castilla academy setup where the former Spanish under-19 international really shone.

Since the 2022/23 season, Ángel has become a mainstay and played 79 times for Castilla, notching up three goals in that time.

What will he bring?
Manuel Ángel is a technically gifted central midfielder who roams fluidly between a box-to-box number 8 and a deeper number 6 role.

He combines press resistance and sharp vision to dictate tempo and evade pressure with either foot. He also contributes defensively, pressing well and helping recover possession for his team.

Manuel Ángel faces extremely stiff competition for a place in Fulham's team. While Josh King is currently the central, young star of the midfield, Arbeloa has shown so far that he is prepared to gravitate towards players he knows, understands and trusts more than Fulham's established, longer-serving names like Kevin and Muniz, for example.



https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2026/09/03/fulham/1270032-a-roundup-of-fulham-s-transfer-window.html

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Fulham lineup vs. Crystal Palace: Predicted XI for Premier League clash as Alvaro Arbeloa plans key change
Fulham head coach Alvaro Arbeloa could introduce Shea Charles into his starting side for Saturday's Premier League clash with Crystal Palace.

Charles could come in for Oscar Bobb, which would likely lead to Alex Iwobi moving into a wide area.

Fulham will again be without the services of Tom Cairney due to a long-term knee injury, but the home team are otherwise in strong shape for Saturday's contest.

Gonzalo Garcia, who has scored twice in his first three appearances for his new club after arriving from Real Madrid, will again lead the Fulham line.

David Affengruber, Manuel Angel and Hugo Larsson are all in line for potential debuts following their arrivals at Craven Cottage in the latter stages of the transfer window.

Cesar Palacios has thus far found it difficult to make his mark for his new club but is again expected to feature in the starting side this weekend.

Meanwhile, there will be another start in the number 10 spot for Josh King.

Fulham possible starting lineup:
Leno; Castagne, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Berge, Charles; Iwobi, King, Palacios; G Garcia



https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/fulham/predicted-lineups/arbeloa-to-make-key-change-how-fulham-could-line-up-against-palace_604401.html

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New boys' squad numbers
Following the addition of three new faces on deadline day, we can now confirm the squad numbers that will be worn by our latest signings in 2026/27.

15. Hugo Larsson

20. Manuel Ángel

22. David Affengruber



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2026/september/03/new-boys-squad-numbers/

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Cottage Tactico: Same shape, different dynamics for Palace
Crystal Palace at Craven Cottage. In case any fellow Fulham fans still have PTSD from facing Oliver Glasner's 5-2-3, it's probably worth putting out there that not all systems with the same numerical formation do the same things. Pierre Sage was hired to offer continuity for a squad built to play five at the back, but still offers Palace some new tactical dynamics.

The issue is, player departures (both rumoured and actual) have meant his summer has perhaps been more about personnel than patterns. So, what should we expect in a clash of two sides hunting their first points of the season at the Cottage this Saturday?

A summer of change

Palace, like Fulham, have experienced a summer of change both in the dugout and on the pitch. Key men Maxence Lacroix and Daniel Muñoz have followed Oliver Glasner out the door, whilst the likes of Jean-Philippe Mateta, and Ismaïla Sarr were unsettled by links to big moves themselves.

As a result, the XI that started against Man City on Friday night included only five players who started the FA Cup Final against them just over a year ago.

For Sage, the immediate task therefore has been one of finding the right personnel and balance in his side, over and above refining some tactical tweaks.

The departure of Marc Guehi last season was navigated well, with Jaydee Canvot looking a real prospect to be Palace's next big thing at the back. But the loss of Lacroix this summer has proven more tricky, with other CB options injured, and active replacements chased all window.

One piece of remaining continuity should be Chris Richards, who has stood out in recent clashes against Fulham at RCB, stepping out confidently to lock down wide spaces left behind the RWB. However, his role has been changed and he has looked less comfortable dealing with a focal point as a central CB.

Ahead of the back-three, the midfield partnership of Adam Wharton and Daichi Kamada, which also started the FA Cup Final, has always on paper looked a touch light defensively, particularly when matched up against increasingly physical Premier League midfield-threes.

Palace previously navigated that, and ran into consistent form once they nailed down a settled, dominant and aggressive back-three behind them who were confident jumping out to follow players. That is evidently less of the case currently, as they look for their new combination. Sage seems a touch less inclined to sit off in tight structure and soak up pressure compared to Glasner, too, which could at times increase the space required to be covered by his midfield two.

Looking forward

Just as Pep Guardiola has departed, so it seems has the era of sterile possession in the Premier League, with teams less inclined to look sideways and more likely to see the value in passing forwards early.

Wharton is in many ways a poster boy for this, receiving and looking for balls forward instinctively. Against Man City, even with Palace restricted to just 28% of possession, there were moments that saw him push passes into space and over the top. In Palace's first fixture against Everton, where they had more of the ball, you can still see his reluctance to pass backwards, particularly when entering the opposition half.

Wharton's passing angles with his left foot wrapping around the ball into the right hand side have also become a feature. The likes of Yeremy Pino and new RWB Anan Khalaili suit being a creative focus, whilst Palace's left side has tended to see converted striker Eddie Nketiah as the left '10'.

Nketiah suits running beyond the central striker and looking to convert chances more than making them, so overloaded right side attacks sometimes create space for him to attack the box as Palace's highest player. Tyrick Mitchell at LWB has often been isolated and able to do this, too, and could catch oppositions out if they become overly fixated on what's going on down the other flank.

Finishing things

In a limited sample size, the aggressive positioning of Palace's wing-backs has only intensified under Sage and, as Munoz did for Glasner historically, they turn what on paper looks like a fairly defensive formation into an aggressive attacking shape on the ball. This was even the case against possession hungry Man City, with both the bright looking Khalaili and the ever reliable Mitchell high and wide when Palace got the chance to attack, opening up space for other profiles.

However, Palace's ability to create chances in recent years has not been matched by their ability to finish them. In the 2025/26 season, they wracked up 62.46 expected goals. But that xG somehow only resulted in 41 actual goals. That was by far and away the worst finishing record of any Premier League side, and saw the eighth most creative attack on paper deliver the third worst goals tally, with only relegated Burnley and Wolves scoring fewer. To put it another way, the Eagles did enough to create about 16 more goals than Fulham last season, yet ended up scoring six fewer than us!

For all the good play and eye catching moments had by the likes of Sarr and Mateta, who accounted for just over half of their goal output last campaign, both players were also guilty of missing plenty of chances.

Neither featured in Palace's last game, and Fulham fans know all too well about not being able to rely on key goal output from last season after the departures of Raúl Jiménez and Harry Wilson. But whilst Gonzalo García is happily up and running for us, at Palace the baton has been passed to the likes of Strand Larsen, Nketiah and Pino to step up.

You get the feeling Palace won't be able to manage a dramatic xG underperformance as easily this time around, so more regular and reliable output going forward will be key.

One to watch: Jaydee Canvot

Crystal Palace have been a CB finishing school in their recent history, and Canvot looks very likely to be the next one to graduate. Strong in the air, quick and confident in duels, he fits the prototype for a modern CB in a Premier League increasingly becoming the land of giants, physical freaks and set-piece threats.

However, Canvot's ball playing shouldn't be sniffed at, either. With 15 progressive passes in the first two games, he is just one behind Wharton at the top of Palace's leaderboard, and has done so with a better pass accuracy of 90%. Pretty impressive for someone whose first job is to be a dominant defender.

Tactical key: Adam Wharton

Critics have pointed at Wharton's off-ball work against Man City as being part of the reason a 'bigger' club haven't swooped yet, but their loss is Palace's gain because his on-ball quality is good enough for them to build an entire system around.

If Palace do want a touch more settled possession under Sage, Wharton's quality playing through the press and breaking sides down will be fundamental to that. If they continue to want to play vertically and in transition, Wharton's vision and ability to go over the press and in behind will be every bit as important.

Fulham will hope we're seeing more of him defending than passing at the Cottage on Saturday!

The views, opinions, and/or recommendations expressed in this article are attributed to the author of Cottage Tactico and not necessarily Fulham FC. You can read more of Kish Koria's tactical takes on FFC on X and across social media, @CottageTactico.



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2026/september/03/cottage-tactico-same-shape-different-dynamics-for-palace/