Sunday Fulham Stuff (08/07/18)...

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Tom Cairney's new contract could be Fulham's most important piece of business

Fulham have tied down Tom Cairney on a new five-year deal.

Fulham may have made their most important signing of the summer already by tying down influential midfielder Tom Cairney to a new five-year contract.

The Scotland international has been linked with a move away from Craven Cottage this summer, with reports in The Sun suggesting that West Ham United were extremely keen on the player.

Fulham are in the midst of an important summer following their promotion from the Championship last season.

In their bid for Premier League survival this coming season, the Cottagers will need to make several signings having heavily relied on loan players such as Aleksandar Mitrovic, Lucas Piazon and Matt Targett.

But of all the signings Fulham could potentially make this summer, extending Cairney's contract at the club and wading off interest from Premier League rivals could be their most important one of all.

The former Blackburn Rovers man is a key component of Slavisa Jokanovic's side and has been such an influential figure over the past two campaigns, scoring 19 league goals and grabbing a further 15 assists.

He is fundamental to the way Fulham play, therefore losing him would have left a massive void to fill while replacing him like-for-like would have been extremely difficult with an assumed tight transfer budget.

Tying Cairney down for the next five years not only protects Fulham from seeing his head turned this summer, it also allows them to command a bigger fee in 12 months' time should they fail to retain their top-light status.

The 27-year-old is coming into his peak years and he is the right sort of player to help lead Fulham to establish themselves in the Premier League, given his obvious deep connection with the west London club.

Jokanovic still needs to bring in a few fresh faces if Fulham have realistic aims of surviving, but arguably no new player will be as important as Cairney or quite have the impact the Scot is capable of delivering.



http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2018/07/07/tt-tom-cairneys-new-contract-could-be-fulhams-most-important-sum/

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2018 Fulham Player Reviews: Sheyi Ojo
Did the Liverpool-loanee do enough to sway the hearts of Fulham supporters?


Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images

Basic Stats: 22 appearances | 18 starts | 4 substitutions | 1,402 minutes | 4 goals | 2 assists

Economics: Year-Long Loan from Liverpool | Signed: 2017 | Contract Ends in Summer 2018

Stats by Seven-Game sequences

WhoScored Rating Chart

Radar

All data from whoscored.com

Goals vs. Expected Goals

from experimental361.com

Transfermarket Value Chart

from transfermarket.co.uk

CC Thoughts: You can interpret Sheyi Ojo's 2017/18 season Fulham as many things. He was either a raw 20 year-old talent that showed his potential in spurts. Or, Ojo showed that he just wasn't cut for it as a regular starter in professional football. I would like to think of it as the latter. Either way, this was a developmental season for Ojo who garnered enough attention to receive an appearance at England's Under-21 National Team. Along with that, he received valuable minutes with a football club that faced pressure every matchday to do what it could to claim a promotion place towards the Premier League. Every bit of that is valuable for any footballing prospect.

Sure, Ojo had plenty of growing pains. His shot selection at times was quite poor (24 shots in the penalty area, 24 outside the box) and his dislocated shoulder against QPR really didn't help give him a chance to improve on his consistency. However, he was a willing shot tacker (3.08 per 90 minutes) and dribbler (2.05 successful attempts per 90 minutes). Along with that, he will always have his two-goal performance at Sheffield United that some say have kickstarted Fulham's campaign towards Premier League promotion.

At his best, he is a powerful player out wide that could cut inside and deliver the killer blow. If he can be a bigger risk taker in his passing and learn to make said inside cuts against grown men more often, Ojo has what it takes to play in the Premier League. That being said, another loan spell back in the Championship seems more realistic. Whatever happens, it will be interesting to follow Ojo's future. Just remember that when it comes to evaluating future talent, a Steven Gerrard in 1999 is completely different from a Steven Gerrard in 2009.

Key Stat: 83.1% successful passes. Among all attacking players that have played more than a quarter of the league season or better, Ojo is tied with Lucas Piazon for tops in the club in passing. That being said, Ojo only passed the ball 22.5 times per 90 minutes; which was worst among any Fulham player. When he is willing to pass, he took the conservative approach.

Whether that was due to circumstance of a lack of talent at center forward at the time or a lack of skill in that area is up for interpretation.

Your thoughts: So what say you? What is Sheyi Ojo's ceiling? Is he a player worth giving a permanent contract to if you were in Fulham's boardroom? What does he have to do in your eyes for him to make a marked improvement for 2018/19? Don't be shy to leave your comments below.



https://cottagersconfidential.sbnation.com/2018/7/6/17539940/2018-fulham-player-reviews-sheyi-ojo

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Loan Deal For Adebayo

The Club can announce that Elijah Adebayo has joined League Two outfit Swindon Town on loan for the upcoming 2018/19 season.

Last season Adebayo joined Cheltenham Town on loan in January after impressing in the PL2, having notched up 11 goals and 7 assists by Christmas. He made 7 appearances for Cheltenham, scoring twice and assisting once.

He has had two other loan experiences in non-league football at Slough Town and Bognor Regis.

Swindon will be looking to build on last season where they finished ninth, seven points off the play-offs.

Their first competitive match of the season is at home to Macclesfield Town on August 4th, however, they have a packed pre-season schedule which includes ties against West Bromwich Albion, Chippenham Town, Portsmouth and Swindon Supermarine.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2018/july/07/loan-deal-for-adebayo

[WhiteJC]

Swindon sign Adebayo on loan
by Dan on July 7, 2018

Swindon Town have taken Fulham striker Elijah Adebayo on a season-long loan, it has been confirmed this morning.

The powerful 20 year-old, who has been converted from a centre back, enjoyed an outstanding season with Peter Grant's under-23 side last term, scoring eleven goals before Christmas. Adebayo went then on loan to Cheltenham Town in January, scoring twice in seven senior appearances.

He joins League Two Swindon Town for the duration of the forthcoming campaign and is set to join Phil Brown's side on their pre-season tour of Spain.



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2018/07/swindon-sign-adebayo-on-loan/

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And Another Of Fulham's Promotion Heroes Puts Pen To Paper On A New Deal



Since signing for Fulham, from Bolton Wanderers, Tim Ream has become something of a cult hero at Craven Cottage, something his accolade as the Fulham Player of the Year for 2017 / 2018 proves with the American defender being cheered whenever he is called into defensive action.

The coming season Ream, now 30-years-of-age, will get the chance to experience Premier League football, a step up in class we're sure he'll cope admirably with.

Ahead of the preparations for what will, we're sure, be an exciting season, the club have announced that Ream has put pen-to-paper on a new contract.

The new contract is for two years with the club having the option to extend it by another year.

Following the announcement that Tom Cairney, Click Here, has also signed a new contract, these are good times for Fulham supporters.

Naturally, talking about the new deal, to the BBC, Ream is delighted at remaining at Craven Cottage, remarking,

    "The goal all along was to be in the Premier League.

    "Now to have the opportunity to play there with this group of guys is something that I think we're all looking forward to.

    "I wanted to sort the contract out fairly quickly. It gives you the freedom and the licence to go out and focus on the football, so it's just nice to have it done."

Let's hope the glory days continue for Fulham and a player who the fans have clearly, during his time with us, taken a liking to.



https://fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/and-another-of-fulhams-promotion-heroes-puts-pen-to-paper-on-a-new-deal/

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham, Crystal Palace keen on Saint-Etienne midfielder Yann M'Vila?

Saint-Etienne midfielder Yann M'Vila has reportedly emerged as a summer transfer target for both Fulham and Crystal Palace.

M'Vila is no stranger to English football having spent a year on loan at Sunderland during the 2015-16 campaign, with 37 outings being made in the Premier League.

According to Foot Mercato, both Fulham and Palace have taken an interest in offering the 28-year-old a second stint in England's top flight.

The Frenchman was a regular for Saint-Etienne during the second half of last season, but just 12 months remain on the central midfielder's contract.

Both the Cottagers and the Eagles have operated with a settled midfield over the past 12 months, but M'Vila could potentially add more steel in the middle of the pitch.

Teams from China are also said to be keen on the player.



https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/fulham/transfer-talk/news/fulham-palace-keen-on-yann-mvila_330030.html

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Annual Programme Subscription

Claim your programme subscription for the whole of the 2018/19 season, with early bird discounts available for a limited time only!

Order your Fulham home season subscription and make sure you don't miss out on a single programme.

For a one-off fee of £100.00*, your programme will be delivered to your door. All home league, cup and friendly fixtures are included in this price.

This offer is only valid for seven days and will expire on Friday 13th July at 11.59pm.

Increased delivery charges apply to Europe and Rest of the World. The early bird price for Europe is £145 and ROW is £165. After the expiry date, prices will rise by £10.00 for each region.

To order please visit this link, or ring 0207 121 5000

*Please note we no longer accept cheques or postal orders for any orders.

http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2018/july/06/annual-programme-subscription

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Fulham put four past Crawley in pre-season opener
by Dan on July 7, 2018

Fulham's preparations for their return to the Premier League began with an entertaining 4-2 victory over League Two Crawley Town on a glorious afternoon at Motspur Park.

Both Slavisa Jokanovic and Harry Kewell opted to field different elevens in each half of this behind-cloors-doors friendly as both sides began their busy summer schedule. Fulham's starting line-up had a youthful look to it, with only Cyrus Christie, Ryan Sessegnon, Denis Odoi, Stefan Johansen and Aboubakar Kamara included from last season's regular starters. The home side enjoyed most of the early possession, but the game was played at a laboured pace due to the sweltering heat.

The visitors, who included former Fulham midfielder Rob Milson as a trialist, scored from their first real attack in the ninth minute. Mark Randall flighted a lovely ball over the Fulham defence and Ollie Palmer produced an impressive finish from the edge of the box. Palmer might have added a second when he curled a brilliant free-kick around the wall from 25 yards out, but Marek Rodak made a superb reaction save to prevent Fulham from falling further behind.

The Whites continued to probe, with Johansen becoming more influential in the middle of the park, and it was no surprise when the Norwegian captain played a pivotal role in Fulham's equaliser. Johansen, wearing the captain's armband in the first half, played an intelligent ball into Mattias Kait and the Estonian international turned brilliantly away from the attentions of a couple of Crawley defenders to place his finish beautifully beyond Glenn Morris from fifteen yards out.

Morris then made a couple of smart saves from Kait and Kamara to prevent Fulham snatching a half-time lead. Jokanovic's second half eleven had a much more familiar look to it with Tim Ream, Tom Cairney, Floyd Ayite, Neeskens Kebano and Rui Fonte coming off the bench. Ayite wasted little time in making an impression, whipping a brilliant free-kick into the top corner from 22 yards to put Fulham in front five minutes after the interval.

The Premier League side were now beginning to dominate proceedings and play at a higher tempo. Fulham stretched their lead just before the hour mark from a set piece. Tom Cairney's floated corner was majestically met by Marcelo Djalo, who guided his header perfectly into the corner from ten yards. Jokanovic's men made it four after 72 minutes, when with the Crawley defence appealing for offside, Kebano sauntered onto an inviting pass from Fonte and left Yusuf Mersin with no chance from ten yards out.

The visitors got a goal back a minute later when Thomas Verheydt capitalised on some confusion in the Fulham defence and impudently lifted an audacious finish over a stranded Taye Ashby-Hammond. The young Fulham goalkeeper then made a brilliant double save to keep out efforts from Brian Galach and then Verheydt. Fulham's pre-season preparations continue with another friendly against Championship outfit Reading at Aldershot Town next Saturday afternoon.

FULHAM (4-3-3): Rodak (T. Ashby-Hammond 45); Christie (Fossey 45), R. Sessegnon (S. Sessegnon 45), Odoi (Djalo 45), Jenz (Ream 45); O'Riley (Cisse 45), Kait (Fonte 45), Johansen (Cairney 45); de la Torre (Francois 45), Thorsteinsson (Ayite 45), Kamara (Kebano 45).

GOALS: Kait (23), Ayite (50), Djalo (59), Kebano (71).

CRAWLEY TOWN (4-4-2): Morris (Mersin 45); Francomb (Bulman 45), Connolly (Turley 45), Young, Doherty (McNerney 45), Camara (Galach 45), Randall (Nathaniel-George 45), Milsom (Payne 45), Odebayi (Reid 45), Palmer (Grego-Cox 45), Peleon (Verheydt 45).

GOAL: Palmer (9), Verheydt (72).



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2018/07/fulham-put-four-past-crawley-in-pre-season-opener/

[WhiteJC]

 
Southend XI 2-1 Fulham U23s

Fulham's Under-23s travelled to Southend United on a hot Saturday morning for a 10.30 kick off. The Whites lost 2-1 in a tight game which saw them fall short at the end despite pressing hard for an equaliser.

Neither side made an early impression in the match. Cameron Thompson found his way into the box after sensational ball forward from Sonny Hilton, but he wasn't able to get his feet sorted.

Tayo Edun was impressive in midfield for Fulham, regaining possession on a number of occasions.

The first big chance of the match dropped to Thompson half an hour into the game. Zico Asare's cross into the box got a deflection from a Southend defender's leg.

Thompson was able to read it well. He attempted to nod the ball over the on-rushing keeper, but the ball fell inches wide.

Southend responded, their left winger let fly from the edge of the area. Luca Ashby-Hammond read it and safely took the shot into his hands.

In the 37th minute Southend broke the deadlock. They took a free kick quickly as Aron Davies handed them the ball back.

Southend chipped the ball over Davies' head for the number 9 who ran onto a one-on-one with Ashby-Hammond. The Fulham shot stopper made a good save but the ball rebounded to the striker who slotted with his second attempt.

Hilton made a good run straight from the reset, the keeper came off his line but he ran out of pitch and could only hook his effort into the side netting.

Southend made it 2-0 from a corner in the 55th minute. From a corner, the ball flew to the back post and was slotted as Ashby-Hammond came out for the ball. Thompson almost kept the effort out.

An hour in and Rob Atkinson went close after a storming run, shooting across goal but just wide of the mark.

With 20 minutes left in the match the Whites were denied a goal. A mazy run from Asare started off the move, he slipped a ball of Sylvester Jasper and he fired past the keeper, however, the linesman raised his flag.

Five minutes later Atkinson skipped past the right back and pulled a ball back to Fabio Carvalho on the 6-yard line. He spun and rifled a shot at goal, and the Southend centre-back cleared off the line to deny him.

In the 77th minute the Whites got on the score sheet. Cody Drameh whipped a fantastic ball to Jasper who was charging into the box. He took it on the volley and fired into the back of the net.

Fulham started an onslaught of chances, Carvalho was denied by a fantastic save as his effort sailed towards the top corner.

With 7 minutes on the clock, Hilton did fantastically to created a chance down the right, again he pulled the ball for Carvalho. With no sight on goal, he struck and his shot flew inches over the bar.

The match finished 2-1 to the hosts as they kick started their pre-season.


Fulham U23s Line up: L. Ashby-Hammond, Asare (62' Drameh), Davis, Garrido, Atkinson, Harris (64' De Havilland), Edun (56' Davis), Hilton, Thompson (64' Carvalho) , Kelly (60' Jasper), Woodrow. (57' Ablade)




http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2018/july/07/southend-xi-2-1-fulham-u23s

[WhiteJC]

 
FFC World Cup Watch: Window Shopping II

The second matchday of a World Cup is always the most crucial, it's sink or swim time. Some countries hopes and aspirations will be dashed, early flights booked and others, like Japan, will be ecstatic that they have exceeded their own expectations. So, who stood out for our man Ben Jarman in the third week the World's biggest tournament. Who could we see arriving at Craven Cottage before the season starts.

Wilmar Barrios – Colombia
Colombia caught the eye with a hugely impressive win over a Polish side who looked devoid of ideas and quality. Whilst Juan Fernando Quintero took the headlines with a wonderful performance, it couldn't have been accomplished without the workmanship of Barrios behind him. Currently playing in Argentina with Boca Juniors, Barrios has been a much-mentioned name in South American football for several years and has finally gone on to realise his potential.

Barrios' development in to a mature, ball winning central midfielder has been remarkable, especially in a cauldron like environment such as La Bombonera. His tireless performances and quality distribution set Barrios apart from his peers – demonstrating both of those attributes and a magnificent sense of positioning against the Poles, that enabled Colombia to stamp their authority on a match that looked as though it could have been a major hurdle for Los Cafeteros. Barrios could be available for around €12-17M, which in today's market is good value for a 24-year-old with great potential.

William Troost-Ekong – Nigeria
A little known fact about Troost-Ekong is that he started his football career as a teenager with Fulham before moving to Tottenham Hotspur. More recently, Troost-Ekong has found himself playing in Turkey for Bursaspor, impressing massively in his debut season. Nigeria managed to secure a vital win over a tough Iceland side, and their manager Germot Rohr made significant changes to make the Super Eagles fly once more. Reverting to a three-at-the-back formation that they tested against England, Ekong and his defensive line shut down Alfred Finnbogason with ease.

Playing as the middle centre-back, Ekong shone with a wonderful passing range that so often set Nigeria on the front foot, giving them the initiative to counter-attack at speed. His accuracy when passing through the thirds was crucial to Nigeria's rhythm and it was his intelligence with the ball that provided a platform for the Africans to impose themselves on the game. Ekong's arial presence killed off the threat they Finnbogason posed, and it wasn't until Sigurdsson's last minute penalty that Iceland really looked like scoring. Another 24 year-old with a bright future ahead of him, Ekong may be available for around £12M.

Nordin Amrabat – Morocco
Morocco had their dreams shattered by Portugal, as Cristiano Ronaldo's header in the 4 th minute left the Lions of the Atlas Mountains ruing their lack of a striker. That being said, the North African's all-round play has been a joy to watch, with Amrabat at the heart of the majority of all the positives. At 31, Amrabat might be outside the quota that Fulham have set in terms of signing players, however his performances in the World Cup and on-loan at Leganes this season have been particularly encouraging.

Despite his slightly advancing years, Amrabat shows no signs of slowing down, particularly in wide areas – essentially ending the careers of both Raphael Guerreiro and Cedric Soares in one game with his wonderful ingenuity and direct running. Amrabat's tactical flexibility is certainly an asset that can be utilised, showing the ability to play at right-back and as a support striker for Morcco and Leganes. The only asset that Ambrabat dearly misses is the ability to score, despite creating a number of chances for himself every match. Sone Aluko? Is that you?!

Daniel Arzani – Australia
It is not often that you introduce a player that isn't from South America as a street footballer and a futsal player, but that is exactly where Arzani's heritage lies. Born in Iran before moving to Australia at the age of 6, Arzani has had to fight throughout his life for the success that he has had thus far. After being introduced as an 84 th minute substitute against France in matchday one, Arzani become the youngest Australian to play in a World Cup at 19 years of age. His introduction against Denmark gave the World a snap-shot of his ability.

Arzani's quick speed provided an impact that Robbie Kruse and Matthew Leckie couldn't, and although Leckie has proved to be an influential figure for the Socceroo's, Arzani offered much more than the limited Kruse. His background in futsal showed as his close control in both tight areas and at speed pinned Denmark back, opening spaces Australia hadn't been able to before his introduction. Both of his substitutions have offered Australia imagination in the final third, something that the Socceroos were desperately lacking. Playing for Melbourne City, it looks likely that Arzani would sign for Manchester City, however could be available on loan or similar should he arrive in England.

Youssouf Sabaly – Senegal
If there is one player who has set a high standard in both his first two matches at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, producing two near-perfect displays, it is Senegal's Youssouf Sabaly. His presence down the left-flank has offered Senegal vital protection in a potentially the toughest group. Coming through PSG's famed academy before finding his feet in Bordeaux, Sabaliy has been playing on both sides for his club side and hugely impressing.

His coach Aliou Cisse sung his praises when interviewed by FIFA remarking on his ability to find space and to exploit it accordingly, but most impressively demonstrating how important it is to have a close relationship with the winger. Modern full-backs are arguably the most important player in the game as it currently is, and Sabaly showed that against Japan with his shot being spilled to Mane before his Zidane-esque pirouette and pass to Moussa Wague set-up their second. Sabaly's pace and wonderful crossing ability are the two biggest factors to becoming a powerful weapon at full-back, and his impact on Senegal's World Cup has been unmatched by some of the bigger stars in the team such as Mane. Sabaly has been linked with a number of teams across Europe, but looks set to cometo England over the summer.

Stay tuned for more World Cup Watch next week as we take a look at the final round of games.



https://fulhamish.co.uk/post/2018-07-07-ffc-world-cup-watch-window-shopping-ii/

[WhiteJC]

 
Sessegnon will be an England star if he moves to Tottenham

Tottenham will turn Fulham whizkid Ryan Sessegnon into a Three Lions star, if they can complete a permanent transfer this summer.

Mauricio Pochettino has reportedly been a long-term admirer of the dynamic full-back, and has been linked with a big-money move for the teenager for some time.

Lyall Thomas, a Sky Sports News reporter, claimed on his personal Twitter account that Sessegnon is currently a 'top target' for Spurs, following his stupendous season at Craven Cottage last term.

It is integral that Pochettino closes out this deal, and Sessegnon will be transformed into an England star if he follows in the footsteps of so many before him.

Gareth Southgate's current England squad is full to the brim with Tottenham players past and present, but two players in particular give just-cause to believe that Sessegnon should move to Spurs.

Dele Alli was himself in the exact same position as Sessegnon just a few years ago, playing for MK Dons, and has since been transformed into one of England's best players under the watchful eye of Poch.

However, it is the wing-back's that Southgate uses that could show Sessegnon's career trajectory should he opt for a Spurs switch, with Danny Rose, Kyle Walker but in particular Kieran Trippier raising the Spurs banner at the England camp, and performing well.

Trippier was relatively unknown coming out of Burnley, and worked his way up from the Championship to the Premier League with determination and hard work, much like Fulham did.

Working with Poch and the Spurs setup, the 26-year-old is now England's premium wing-back choice, and has been one of England greatest stars at the World Cup thus far.

Sessegnon must look to emulate that, and in choosing Tottenham will drastically improve his chances at Three Lions success.



https://thisisfutbol.com/2018/07/blogs/premier-league/sessegnon-will-be-an-england-star-if-he-moves-to-tottenham/

[WhiteJC]

 
Well done Jokanovic – Fulham completing a 2-year deal for this 30-year-old veteran portrays ambition

Why Fulham have done a brilliant job by extending Tim Ream's contract

As per reports, Fulham defender Tim Ream has signed a new two-year deal with the club that will keep him at Craven Cottage until 2020. The club have the option to extend his contract by another year.

Ream, who was voted the Cottagers' player of the season during their promotion-winning campaign, has made over 100 appearances for the Craven Cottage side since joining from Bolton in 2015.

It is a fantastic move by the Fulham officials to extend Ream's contract, the player who capped off an incredible year at the club level. The American defender was a key part of Slavisa Jokanovic's side that earned promotion to the Premier League.


Tim Ream

The 30-year-old made 44 league appearances this past season, helping the Cottagers to a clean sheet in the play-off final against Aston Villa at Wembley. But Ream's Fulham career wasn't a straight road at all. He had to work his socks off from being told to leave by Jokanovic two years ago to a defensive lynchpin in the Serbian's side.

Confident, reliable and a no-nonsense defender, the American's evolution was the result of hard work on and off the pitch over the past two years. Ream was outstanding for Fulham this past season, putting in superb displays filled with excellent tackles, strong aerial presence and intelligent interceptions.

But two years ago, the 30-year-old was hesitant when in possession of the ball and with an error in his judgment. He had to work hard to iron out those flaws and he did that with his extraordinary work ethic and determination that changed Jokanovic's mind. Ream's work on and off the pitch was very clear for everyone to see and Jokanovic just couldn't ignore it.

Ream became one of the first names on the team sheet and he became Fulham's go-to defender alongside Chelsea loanee Tomas Kalas. It looked set that the centre-back pairing of Ream and Kalas would reign supreme for the rest of the season, only for the latter to suffer a hip injury in late February.

Kalas' injury paved way for Denis Odoi to step in. Kalas' absence didn't bother Ream at all as he stayed sturdy as a rock. He helped the Cottagers keep 7 clean sheets in the following 14 matches.

Fulham may be a slowpoke in the transfer window but after skipper Tom Cairney's contract extension, rewarding Ream with a two-year new deal couldn't have come at a better time.



https://soccersouls.com/2018/07/08/well-done-jokanovic-fulham-completing-a-2-year-deal-for-this-30-year-old-veteran-portrays-ambition/

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham Plotting A Summer Move For 26 Y/O German International: Is He Worth The Fuss?



Fulham are looking to secure the signature of Hertha Berlin defender Marvin Plattenhardt this summer. According to recent reports, the London side are planning to seal a move for the German international during this summer transfer period. It is believed that the Cottagers are on the lookout for a new left-back and have set their eyes on the Hertha Berlin star ahead of the new season.

The 26-year-old had an outstanding campaign last term and had put in a number of solid performances at the back for the Bundesliga outfit which has not gone unnoticed by other clubs. The Filderstadt-born player had made 38 appearances for Hertha Berlin last season and had 8 assists to his name across all competitions. Some sources are now claiming that a whole host of English clubs are chasing after his signature which includes the Premier League new boys, Fulham.

Plattenhardt's contributions for the Berlin side saw him get rewarded as he was named in Germany's 2018 FIFA World Cup squad. He had featured in one match in the competition but couldn't help his nation secure a passage through to the knockout stages of the tournament.

The German talent has a wealth of experience in the Bundesliga but is still unproven in English football. Hence, a move for him could be a gamble for Fulham as they look to avoid the drop in the upcoming campaign.



The Cottagers managed to earn a promotion back to the English top tier via the post-season playoffs earlier this year. Jokanović's side are now in dire need of making some quality acquisitions this summer if they are to avoid getting themselves involved in a relegation dogfight next year. A talented young defender who can be an attacking threat down the left flank is exactly what the doctor ordered for Fulham going into the new campaign. The possibility of Plattenhardt linking up with Ryan Sessegnon down the left wing is a mouth-watering prospect for any Fulham supporter.

The potential acquisition of Plattenhardt will undoubtedly bolster Jokanovic's defensive options at Craven Cottage. The German international will definitely improve their defence significantly and add more competition for places within the Cottagers squad.

At 26, Plattenhardt still has his prime years ahead of him which Fulham could look to benefit from, in the next few seasons. It remains to be seen what lies ahead in the future of Plattenhardt and whether he ends up signing for the London club before the start of the new season.



https://the4thofficial.net/2018/07/fulham-plotting-summer-move-26-yo-bundesliga-fullback-worth-fuss/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham in talks with Sessegnon, McDonald and Johansen over new deals
by Dan on July 7, 2018

Ryan Sessegnon will become the next Fulham star to sign a new contract in the coming days – while the club are beginning discussions with Kevin McDonald and Stefan Johansen about extending their current deals, according to a Daily Mirror report this evening.

Sessegnon is keen to commit his future to the club he joined at the age of nine and the teenage sensation is set to be rewarded with a hefty pay rise. The 18 year-old left winger values the way that Slavisa Jokanovic has handled his start in senior football and views regular first-team football as crucial to his continued development. Sessegnon has scored 23 goals in 82 appearances for the Whites and was a crucial part of the Fulham side that won promotion via the Championship play-offs in May.

Securing Sessegnon's future at Craven Cottage will be another big boost ahead of Fulham's return to the Premier League after the club agreed contract extensions with captain Tom Cairney and centre back Tim Ream last week. The Mirror report also suggests that the club are keen to tie down two other key performers from last season's side, with talks underway with midfielders Kevin McDonald and Stefan Johansen about extending their current deals at Fulham.

McDonald, a revelation at the base of Fulham's midfield since signing from Wolves in July 2016, has a year to go on his current contract, although the club could trigger an automatic one-year extension under the terms of his existing deal. The Scottish international has 94 appearances for the Cottagers, scoring six goals. Norway captain Johansen, who has scored 21 goals in 91 games since joining from Celtic in August 2016, also has a year left on his current contract – with Fulham holding a year's option, but head of football operations Tony Khan is keen to cement their futures at Craven Cottage ahead of the start of the new season.



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2018/07/fulham-in-talks-with-sessegnon-mcdonald-and-johansen-over-new-deals/

[WhiteJC]

 
Here's why Fulham's 27-year-old midfield marvel will set the Premier League on fire next season


Tom Cairney

Why Fulham's Tom Cairney could set the Premier League alight next season

Fulham captain Tom Cairney has signed a new five-year deal with the club, which will keep him at Craven Cottage until 2023. This is a very good news not just for the team but also for the player who will take part in the Premier League next season.

The 27-year-old, who joined the London club three years ago from Blackburn, has scored 27 goals in 130 appearances in the Championship. Cairney netted the only goal against Aston Villa in the Championship playoff final to lead Fulham to a top-flight promotion.

He has done a fantastic job for the Cottagers thus far and signing a new deal indicates his determination to do well in the upcoming seasons. The next campaign will be about performing at the highest level and proving that he can step up to the plate in pressure situations.

Let us just take a detailed look at the player with stats to prove why he can perform well next season:

Analysis – Tom Cairney

Cairney probably has all the attributes required of a perfect central midfielder. He can receive the ball in tight areas and pick out precise and defence-splitting passes in midfield. He had a pass success rate of 91.5% and a key pass rate of 1.9 per game in the Championship last season and this speaks volumes of his qualities in possession.

The 27-year-old possesses intricacy in his game where he can link up play from defence to attack, acting as a driving force for the team. In Slavisa Jokanovic's 4-3-3 system, Cairney predominantly plays on the right-hand side of a three-man midfield.

From that position, he can make late runs into the box and concurrently drop deep at times to survey the match situation. Cairney also demonstrates fabulous tenacity to tackle and win possession in midfield, with a success rate of 1.1 per game.

Conclusion

The Premier League will be looking forward to seeing such a talent on display worldwide. Tom Cairney has the ability to single-handedly drive his team on and make other players perform better as well. He is Fulham's 'captain fantastic' and all the directions are heading towards him setting high standards next season.



http://www.mediareferee.com/2018/07/08/heres-why-fulhams-27-year-old-midfield-marvel-will-set-the-premier-league-on-fire-next-season/

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham vs Chelsea: Jean-Michael Seri given transfer green light

Jean-Michael Seri & Nice

You've got to wonder if Patrick Vieira is already regretting his decision to take the manager's job at Nice.

It's a summer of change for Nice after they finished eighth last season. Nice narrowly missed out on a Europa League berth by one point.

Former Arsenal and French international star Vieira is now in charge at Nice. He's left his post at New York City FC.

But Vieira's arrival has already been hectic. Mario Balotelli, who was the club's top scorer last season with 18 goals, is on his way to Marseille.

While second striker Alassane Pléa also seems like he may be leaving Nice, having been linked with a move to the Premier League this summer.

Both Balotelli and Pléa skipped the first day of Nice's pre-season training without permission.

If that wasn't enough, Nice's star midfielder Jean-Michael Seri also seems set to leave the club this off-season.

Seri given transfer green light

It's been reported over the weekend that Seri appears to have been permission to leave the Nice.

Seri missed Nice's pre-season friendly against Stade Nyonnais on Saturday, despite most fans having thought he'd play.

That's set off alarm bells that the 26-year-old is on the move.

The Ivory Coast international has a £35m release clause, but that will expire just over a week on July 15.

Chelsea vs Fulham

Chelsea and Fulham are at the front of the queue to sign Seri, according to reports.

Sky Sports reported the following over the weekend:

Chelsea remain interested in the Nice star Jean Michael Seri but will not make a move for the player until their managerial situation is sorted.

Fulham, meanwhile, are ambitious in the market and Seri fits the profile of the dynamic box-to-box midfielder they want to compete with Stefan Johansen.



https://www.101greatgoals.com/news/transfers/fulham-vs-chelsea-jean-michael-seri/

[bobby01]

Just some observations, seri at 35 mill won't be competing with stefjo he would replace him, signing sess, stefjo and kmac would be absolutely fantastic. Joka to come but I can't see the players would have signed if he was leaving. On the 2 friendlies, Ashby-Hammond played the full game for the u23s and second half at motspur or have I read something wrong.

[bill taylors apprentice]

Just some observations, seri at 35 mill won't be competing with stefjo he would replace him, signing sess, stefjo and kmac would be absolutely fantastic. Joka to come but I can't see the players would have signed if he was leaving. On the 2 friendlies, Ashby-Hammond played the full game for the u23s and second half at motspur or have I read something wrong.

There's two,  brothers

[bobby01]

Just some observations, seri at 35 mill won't be competing with stefjo he would replace him, signing sess, stefjo and kmac would be absolutely fantastic. Joka to come but I can't see the players would have signed if he was leaving. On the 2 friendlies, Ashby-Hammond played the full game for the u23s and second half at motspur or have I read something wrong.

There's two,  brothers

Well what a rubbish supporter I am I never knew that.

[cmg]

, Ashby-Hammond played the full game for the u23s and second half at motspur or have I read something wrong.

There's two,  brothers

Taye (19) has played for England u17 but was out injured for most of last season.

Luca (17) replaced his elder brother in the u23 for a lot of the season. He is the current England u17 keeper (voted best keeper in the recent u17 Euros). He also takes a mean penalty! (You'd have to be of my vintage to remember another Fulham penalty taker - Ken Hewkins, second string to Black/Macedo).

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