Saturday Fulham Stuff (02/09/17)...

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Williams' Nomination

George Williams has been nominated for August's Premier League 2 Player of the Month Award.

Peter Grant has selected Williams to start each of the three PL2 games Fulham have played this season, in addition to the Checkatrade Trophy match away at Portsmouth.

The Welshman scored two penalties, one against Portsmouth, and the other he won against Brighton and Hove Albion and dispatched himself.

He scored an additional penalty in the shootout at Fratton Park after the match finished in a 3-3 deadlock.

The list was selected by a panel of the Premier League Football Development Department after PL2 managers nominated the best individual performance from each of their opponents during August, the panel will also choose the winner.

Also included in the shortlist is Kyle Edwards (West Bromwich Albion), Hamza Choudhury (Leicester City), Ethan Ampadu (Chelsea), Joseph Nuttall (Blackburn Rovers), Marcus Tavenier (Middlesbrough), Kellan Gordon (Derby County), and Reiss Nelson (Arsenal).



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2017/september/01/williams-nomination

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Fulham Add Duo to Squad on Deadline Day

On transfer deadline day Fulham Football Club took the opportunity to strengthen their squad.

Having seen Sone Aluko leave Craven Cottage for Reading, Slavisa Jokanovic moved quickly to bring some much-needed width to the squad, by signing not just one winger but two.

The two wingers that have been added to the squad are Yohan Mollo and Jordan Graham

Mollo, a former France U21 winger has joined Fulham on a two-year deal. The 28-year-old was a free agent after being released by the Russian side Zenit St Petersburg on Wednesday. Previously, Mollo has played for Monaco, Granada, Nancy, St Etienne and Krylya Sovetov.

His journey as a professional footballer should bring some valuable experience to the squad.

Graham, on the other hand, has signed for Fulham on a season-long loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Last season the 22-year-old made just two appearances for the club after being side-lined for fifteen months courtesy of a knee ligament injury.

Here at Vital Fulham we welcome both to Craven Cottage.



Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=503159#ixzz4rVA3mUYP

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Adeniran Joins Under-23s

Everton have completed the signing of England Under-18 midfielder Dennis Adeniran from Fulham.

The teenager made five appearances for the Cottagers' first team and scored on his professional debut in a League Cup match at Leyton Orient 12 months ago.

He played for England at the European Under-17 Championship in 2016, when the Young Lions reached the quarter finals.

The 18-year-old Londoner joined Fulham six years ago and has converted from a striker to a central midfielder.

Adeniran has not lost his nose for goal, however. In addition to his first-team strike, the Londoner scored five times for Fulham's Under-23s last term.

In the 2015/16 campaign Adeniran netted a hat-trick for the Cottagers' Under-18s against Tottenham Hotspur.

Adeniran has penned a deal to the end of June 2021.




http://www.evertonfc.com/news/2017/09/01/denis

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Adeniran Departs

The Club can confirm that Dennis Adeniran has joined Everton on a permanent deal for an undisclosed fee.

Adeniran graduated through Fulham's Academy and scored on his debut for the First Team in a League Cup victory over Leyton Orient at the beginning of last season.

He departs the Club with five senior appearances to his name across all competitions.

Everyone at Fulham would like to wish Dennis the very best of luck in his future career.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2017/september/01/adeniran-departs

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Everton strengthen youth ranks by signing Fulham midfielder
Craven Cottage youngster to join up with David Unsworth's U23s

Everton as always have an eye on the future, and have added another youngster to the ranks in David Unsworth's Under-23 squad.

Fulham youth midfielder Dennis Adeniran became Everton's final transfer of the summer window when the deal was officially confirmed earlier this morning.

The England U18 international has signed a five-year deal at Goodison Park through to the summer of 2021.

The Blues have invested heavily in the youth system this summer, signing Nathangelo Markelo, Boris Mathis, Josh Bowler, Lewis Gibson, and bringing back Anton Donkor on loan as well.

Adeniran played in five games for the Fulham senior side last season, including a goal on his debut against Leyton Orient in the EFL Cup. The 18-year-old has 19 England youth international appearances with one goal.

To get a better handle on Adeniran's ability, we spoke to Andrew from SB Nation's Fulham blog Cottagers Confidential.

    He's a box to box kind of guy who can also play wide. He's played in some cup competitions for Fulham. He could maybe play for a Championship club that isn't trying to be promoted right now, if he's sniffing Everton's midfield this year, you have problems.

    I'm not sure how much he has to learn at the youth level. He scored 5 goals in the PL2 last season, he honestly might be better served being loaned to a Championship or League One side.

The youngster appears to be a depth signing right now for the Blues youth side, but has certainly shown potential with his Three Lions selections, so let's see how he turns out.



https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2017/9/1/16236106/everton-transfer-news-rumours-latest-dennis-adeniran-signing-confirmed-contract-fee

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International Whites

Friday sees a number of Fulham players competing in World Cup Qualifiers. Stefan Johansen will captain Norway in Oslo where they host Azerbaijan, while centre-back pairing Tomas Kalas and Tim Ream are also on home soil as the Czech Republic and the United States entertain Germany and Costa Rica in Prague and New York, respectively. The final Fulham man potentially featuring in a World Cup Qualifier on Friday is Neeskens Kebano, whose Democratic Republic of Congo side travel to Tunisia.

A couple of Under-21 matches for Whites fans to keep an eye on Friday evening include England's away European Qualifier with the Netherlands, with Sheyi Ojo in the travelling party, and Marek Rodák's Slovakia who take on Estonia in Tallinn. Fulham have a number of players representing the Three Lions across the various age groups, with Tayo Edun in the Under-20 squad that takes on the Dutch in Telford in a friendly, while Steven Sessegnon and Matt O'Riley have a similar encounter against Brazil Under-18s to look forward to in Shrewsbury. Mikolaj Kwietniewski's Poland Under-19 team face England at St George's Park at lunchtime.

It is a quiet weekend for our international players, with only Atli Andrason and Mattias Kait potentially featuring. Andrason is in the Iceland Under-19 group that faces Wales in a friendly in Rhyl on Saturday, while Kait is in competitive action for Estonia when they host Cyprus the following day.

Johansen and Kalas complete their World Cup Qualifying double headers on Monday, both away from home as Norway head to Stuttgart to take on Germany, and the Czechs meet Northern Ireland in Belfast. On the same day, Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson's Iceland have an Under-21 qualifier versus Albania in Reykjavik, while Edun and his U20 teammates meet Switzerland in Winterthur. Andrason's Iceland side mirror their encounter against Wales with an identical fixture, while Sessegnon and O'Riley will be hoping for some more game time with England in their South Africa match.

The World Cup Qualifiers conclude on Tuesday as Ream's USMNT head to Honduras, while Kebano is back on home turf for their reverse fixture against the Tunisians. Ojo will be back in the UK as England Under-21s welcome Latvia to Bournemouth for another qualifier, while Rodák is also in competitive action when Slovakia U21s meet Northern Ireland in Senica.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2017/september/01/international-whites

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Former Chelsea and Fulham defender joins Watford

Welsh international defender Kylie McCarthy has joined Watford Ladies ahead of their new season.

The former Chelsea, Fulham and Millwall defender, who was known as Kylie Davies before her marriage, captained the Blues during her time there and has also played in the United States.

Having represented England through various age groups up to U23 level, as well as the GB Universities, she committed her long-term International career to Wales.

"I spoke to a few players I know at the club and they spoke highly of the set-up at Watford," she told the Watford Ladies' website. "Keith (Boanas) is a manager I have known for years and who is highly regarded in the game.



Read more at http://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/former-chelsea-and-fulham-defender-pitches-up-at-watford/story-30501368-detail/story.html#mCXmhh1aMtpA68YH.99

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Transfer Round-Up

We recap the 11 players who joined Fulham Football Club during the summer transfer window.

	Marcelo Djalo Signed: 3rd July Contract: Three years (one year Club option) Previous club: Club Deportivo Lugo
	Ibrahima Cisse Signed: 7th July Contract: Three years (one year Club option) Previous club: Standard Liege
	Lucas Piazon Signed: 14th July Contract: One year loan Parent club: Chelsea
	Oliver Norwood Signed: 25th July Contract: One year loan Parent club: Brighton & Hove Albion
	Tomas Kalas Signed: 27th July Contract: One year loan Parent club: Chelsea
	Aboubakar Kamara Signed: 31st July Contract: Four years (one year Club option) Previous club: SC Amiens
	Sheyi Ojo Signed: 16th August Contract: One year loan Parent club: Liverpool
	Rui Fonte Signed: 17th August Contract: Three years (one year Club option) Previous club: Braga
	Rafa Soares Signed: 22nd August Contract: One year loan Parent club: Porto
	Yohan Mollo Signed: 31st August Contract: Up to two years Previous club: Free agent
	Jordan Graham Signed: 31st August Contract: One-year loan Parent club: Wolverhampton Wanderers

http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2017/september/01/transfer-round-up

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'We have a squad that can win promotion' – Fulham fans react to club's summer transfer business

Fulham have made a solid if unspectacular start to the new Championship season, as they seek to improve upon their sixth place finish last term.

Slavisa Jokanovic's men pipped Leeds United to the final play-off spot but were unable to get past Reading in the semi-finals, consigning them to another campaign in the second tier.

And the Cottagers have made a solid start with one win and three draws from their opening five matches, with a 2-0 win at Ipswich Town prior to the international break exactly what they needed ahead of the two-week interruption.

And manager Jokanovic was also busy in the last few days of the transfer window in trying to bring quality players to Craven Cottage, with the former Watford chief sealing deals for Yohan Mallo and Jordan Graham on the final day of the window, taking the number of additions over the summer to 11.

However, the West London outfit were unable to get a deal done for a striker in the last knockings of the window despite a reported bid for Newcastle United forward Dwight Gayle, and many Fulham fans have since taken to Twitter to voice their opinions on the club's summer business.

And it's fair to say that the feeling is reasonably positive among the Cottagers faithful...



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/we-have-a-squad-that-can-win-promotion-fulham-fans-react-to-clubs-summer-transfer-business/

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The Fulhamish View: Transfer Window, Summer 2017

So, the summer window has come to an end, and there are differing views flying around the Fulham fanbase as a whole.

It's not all singing off the same hymn sheet in the Fulhamish camp either, although there remains a strong positive vibe around the window as a whole. Here's what each of the Fulhamish squad had to offer about Fulham's wheeling and dealing this summer.

Jack J Collins
Transfer windows evoke funny emotions in people. Watching people imploring our board to whack £15 million on perennial-non-settler Fernando Forestieri was a potential highlight, especially considered in the light that when at Watford together, Jokanovic had a tumultuous relationship with the diminutive playmaker.

It's also pertinent to muse on the notion that the order of how players come in or out of the club has so much of an effect on how people view the window on Deadline Day. Imagine if you will, that the transfers of Ojo and Rui Fonte were switched with the late signings of Mollo and Graham.

Instead of complaints about how the club hadn't spent the Aluko money, fans would be praising the board for getting a long-term target over the line on the final day. When put into this perspective, it makes sense to look at things only in the light of what we've lost and what we've gained.

So, from the first team and fringe squad that ended last season, Fulham have ceded Scott Malone, Sone Aluko, Chris Martin, Scott Parker,  Ragnar Sigurdsson, Cyriac and Thanos Petsos.

We've gained Rafa Soares, Sheyi Ojo, Jordan Graham, Yohan Mollo, Rui Fonte, Oliver Norwood, Marcelo Djalo, Aboubakar Kamara and Ibrahima Cisse.

That's only a two player swing, but it's an important one when you consider that there is a production line of talent being piped through the Academy. Without an opportunity at left back last season, would we have been denied the emergence of a certain Ryan Sessegnon?

Potential backup holes at RB or CF could lead to the full inductions for hotly tipped players such as Steven 'The Realest' Sessegnon, Tayo 'Did You See What' Edun or Stevie 'Yer Da's Fave' Humphrys to seize their own opportunity this year.

Early signs suggest that our other signings may well be upgrades in a number of areas. Rui Fonte's performance against Ipswich was quite a sight to behold and if he offers the link up play of Chris Martin with the ability to get in behind then he could be the missing piece of the jigsaw.

Whilst Scott Malone provided energy and goals down the left, his defensive positioning and crossing left something to be desired. I'm  hoping that the combination of Sessegnon and Soares will be able to plug that gap effectively and with more accuracy in their centring of the ball.

The departure of Sone Aluko has left a bitter taste in the mouth of many fans and I can understand that, but financially the fee was too good to be sniffed at and we've got three replacements with rave reviews to fill that gap, in Ojo, Graham and Mollo. Only time will tell if any or all will be able to emulate Sone, and potentially eclipse him.

In Norwood and Cisse, we've added legs, poise and power in the middle, as well as much needed depth, and although I think Kamara is not yet ready for this level, there can be no doubt that he offers something different – a raw pace and power that will unsettle defenders.

The balance of the squad looks about right, and the financials add up so that if we need to bring in another big player in January, that is now possible. I don't know how, aside from potentially at centre back, where the additions would need to come, and in that sense, I would deem this an excellent transfer window for the Whites.

Let's get behind the boys we've not seen yet and get this promotion show on the road.



Sammy James
When we went into the window I'd say that the main priorities for the majority of fans were as follows:

– Sign a striker
– Re-sign Kalas
– Keep Sess
– Keep Cairney
– Sign a GK
– More squad depth

In my eyes, all but one of those issues have been addressed, and the only one that hasn't, a new GK, has been eased with the early form of David Button. By that reckoning, the window has to be considered a success.

The new contracts for Sess and TC at the beginning of the window were a huge statement of intent, and it meant that speculation could be ceased early doors. It's brilliant to have Kalas back in a Fulham shirt, and Fonte looks like an excellent signing, as long as we can keep him fit.

I definitely don't think it's been perfect though. I'm not 100% sure that the over reliance on loans is a great long-term strategy. For instance what if Ojo, Soares, Graham and Kalas become the bedrock of the team and then next season we need to replace 4-5 first XI players? As much as I rate Graham and Ojo, I'm also not convinced that they are a real upgrade on the tireless industry of Sone Aluko.

Also, Aboubakar Kamara doesn't look ready for this level and that is hugely disappointing – there surely must have been better ways to spend £5 million? As for Marcelo Djalo... actually, let's not even go there.

Overall, I think that a 7/10 is fair. The board has done everything required, but a few of the decisions have left me a little bit baffled by their execution.



Ben Jarman
Ultimately, the proof is in the pudding and judgement can only be made once the results on the pitch begin to take shape. On paper, the transfer window was a really strong one for Fulham – we secured our brightest talents, in the form of Sessegnon, Cairney (and not forgetting Bettinelli) for the long-term, and bolstered the squad in the areas where lack of depth hurt us the most, last season.

Statements that we have not shown appropriate ambition in the transfer window seem misplaced, especially with the signings of Fonte and Kamara for a combined fee of £14m. It's important to remember that this pairing is our first permanent deals for forwards since 2014.

Additionally, our midfield is now arguably the strongest in the Championship. Cisse and Norwood, in particular, look to have improved our strength in depth there and the prospect of injuries doesn't strike fear into me as it did last season.

Certainly, there are criticisms that we can aim in the direction of the club. The lack of quality in depth at centre-back could haunt us over the course of the season, and the general feeling is that four quality players in that position over the course of the season, is a requirement.

The signing of Marcelo Djalo feels utterly inexplicable at this stage, however, the emergence of a certain Denis 'Puyol' Odoi as a covering centre-half is a surprising, yet positive one. Keeping hold of him is a huge boost to the squad. Signing a new GK must have been high up the priority list but Gianluigi Button's early season form seems to have bought him at least 6 months grace from the gaffer.

More importantly, there is certainly an over-reliance on loans and in the long-term could certainly come back to bite Fulham, especially in a financial sense. The club have already seen this to a certain extent as Chelsea demanded big fees for Kalas and Piazon after both had storming seasons – this scenario could certainly happen next summer if Fulham wanted to sign Norwood, Rafa Soares or Ojo permanently.

It is a shame that the club hasn't shown a little more ambition in signing players permanently, although a reliance on the loan market has paid off for Huddersfield.

The club should certainly be applauded for two reasons. Firstly, as the main body of the squad are on long-term contracts – most until the summer of 2019, some until 2020, meaning that finally the club can make profit on players, and also aids the club in adhering to FFP rules. Longer contracts + long payment terms = no transfer embargo – happy days.

Secondly, they have identified and signed players who are clearly going to improve the squad – the prime example being Rui Fonte, who has already in his short cameo with the club, shown a chasm in calibre compared to Woodrow, Kamara and Chris Martin in differing aspects.

Rafa Soares also looks to be a really exciting prospect. The scouting and analysis team needs to be given credit here as this has been apparent since last summer.

Overall, the board has done some good business and have done what was required: keep the core, sign a striker and add quality in depth. 7/10



Farrell Monk
After such a successful season, the key was to hang onto our best players. Fulham were hugely successful in tying down Cairney and Sessegnon to long term deals, and bringing back Kalas and Pizaon too.

The blemish came on Tuesday evening when it was announced that Fulham's joint top starting appearance maker from last season, Sone Aluko, had departed for one of our closest promotion rivals.

This blow is softened by the obviously talented Rui Fonte and Ojo, and to top the list of, we haven't even seen Soares yet. Speculative transfers of Jota and Gayle, as usual, turned out to be just that, speculative.

Considering Fulham were brilliant without getting promoted, the fans should be ever so thankful that the raiders of this not-so-lost ark have largely come away empty handed.

Overall a very positive summer.



Dom Betts
Overall I'd say we've had a good (7.5/10) transfer window this summer, and have succeeded in bringing in good experienced players. Our starting XI didn't necessarily need improving massively if you look at our form for the final quarter of last season (bar the play offs).

Bringing in players such as Norwood, Ojo & Graham with Championship experience will undoubtedly help the side. I know that there were a number of people who wanted us to bring in some marquee signings towards the end of the window, but considering last season was the first season which used statistical analysis and, I'd argue, nearly every signing worked out; I'm willing to buy into and put my confidence in the new system.

Also, in a financial sense, I think it's absolutely great business that we've made £12.5 million on two players that we brought in on free transfers just one summer ago.

If he keeps up the form he showed against Ipswich, Fonte could end up being one of the signings of the season, and I have confidence that he will become a key player for us over the course of the campaign.



Guy Barlow
The way I view our transfer window is very simple: we've kept the bedrock of last season's team and have improved squad depth.

As simple as that sounds, there was actually a lot of uncertainty regarding the futures of Tom Cairney and Ryan Sessegnon which was resolved very early on; we went on to sign strikers on permanent deals for the first time since Matt Smith in 2014; and although we lost a good quality player in Aluko, he's been replaced by 3 new players in Mollo, Ojo and Graham.

The one criticism I've seen is that we didn't sign a centre back but personally, I'm not sure if we need one. If we had spent big, on Engels, for example, who would've been dropped out of Ream and Kalas?

Ream was arguably one of our best players in the second half of last season and we have already kept two clean sheets this season, one with Denis Odoi at CB! This, combined with the fact that Michael Madl didn't leave, makes me think that we have all the cover we need for CB.

Hindsight might change this opinion, but for me, this is one of the best transfer windows we've had in recent memory. Key players have signed new contracts, Rui Fonte looks quality, and we now have about 27 wingers; on with the promotion push!



David Preston
I'd say it's been a successful window. Even with some great additions like Fonte, Norwood and Soares, I still think our best bit of business was keeping TC and Sess.

When you consider that we were having to fend off bids for Sessegnon, it looks like a serious coup to keep him when you consider what he could be worth in the future. TC and Sess also seem delighted to stay, which is a huge positive for the club, and one of the things that makes me the most pleased about the window.

Last season, there was too much pressure on players like TC to pull one out the top draw in the dying moments of games, and as such, we needed another match winner this window – I think we've got just that in Fonte.

There were some ups and downs with reports of Slavisa getting frustrated, but things seemed to all come together in the last two weeks with a string of experienced players coming in and even recouping some cash and breaking all but even for the window through Aluko's departure.

All in all, a decent window, especially if you consider how desperate things looked from a transfer standpoint just before the first league game against Norwich.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2017-09-01-the-fulhamish-view-transfer-window-summer-2017/

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USMNT team news: Ream starts in central defense against Costa Rica

The Fulham man will start alongside Geoff Cameron in central defense at Red Bull Arena, filling in for the injured John Brooks

HARRISON, N.J. — Tim Ream has stepped in for the injured John Brooks, earning the start in central defense for the U.S. national team against Costa Rica on Friday at Red Bull Arena.

U.S. coach Bruce Arena will start the Fulham man alongside Geoff Cameron at center back, with Jorge Villafana on the left and Graham Zusi filling in for the injured DeAndre Yedlin at right back. Tim Howard gets the nod over Brad Guzan in goal for the key World Cup qualifier.

Christian Pulisic and Fabian Johnson will man the flanks for the U.S., with Michael Bradley and Darlington Nagbe partnering in central midfield. And Arena has chosen Bobby Wood and Jozy Altidore up top, leaving Clint Dempsey in the substitute's role he filled during the late stages of this summer's Gold Cup.

USA XI: Howard; Zusi, Cameron, Ream, Villafana; Pulisic, Bradley, Nagbe, Johnson; Altidore, Wood

Substitutes: Guzan, Rimando, Gonzalez, Besler, Beasley, Lichaj, McCarty, Acosta, Arriola, Bedoya, Dempsey, Morris

Costa Rica XI: Navas; Gamboa, Waston, Acosta, Calvo, Oviedo; Ruiz, Borges, Guzman, Bolanos; Urena

Substitutes: Pemberton, Moreira, Gutierrez, Umana, Salvatierra, Venegas, Wallace, Azofeifa, Tejeda, Ortiz, Ramirez, Colanders



http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/usmnt-team-news-ream-starts-in-central-defense-against-costa/1o7ruw0j3ik4q1qi2jc0rb1siy