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Wednesday Fulham Stuff (12/09/18)...

Started by WhiteJC, September 12, 2018, 07:10:45 AM

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WhiteJC

 
Did Fulham overpay for Jean-Michael Seri? The CIES Football Observatory think so

The world-renowned football research group believe the Cottagers overpaid on their summer recruit from Nice

Fulham overpaid for summer signing Jean-Michael Seri, according to world-renowned football research group CIES Football Observatory.

The 27-year-old arrived at Craven Cottage from Nice in a reported €28million move, with the newly promoted club beating the likes of Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool to his signature.

It's been considered somewhat of a coup for the Cottagers - he's been instrumental in their opening four games of the Premier League season and won the goal of the month award for his stunning 30-yard strike in the 4-2 win over Burnley.

But the CIES Football Observatory believe that Fulham overpaid for his services.

Using their algorithm, they've worked out the 'fair price' which corresponds to the average between the estimated cost for the most likely buyer of a player before the transfer window and the current transfer value.

And using that method, they've worked out that Fulham paid €7.8million above his fair price of €20.2million.

But that's nothing compared to their neighbours, Chelsea, who according to the figures, overpaid the most out of all five top divisions when they signed Kepa Arrizabalaga from Athletic Bilbao.


(Image: Henry Browne/Getty Images)

They overpaid by €44.7million, signing him for a reported €80million when his fair price was €35.3million.

Of course, this is just looking at hard stats, which don't take into account a player's importance to a team, which in Fulham and Seri's case is huge.

He's been a stunning signing and has slotted straight into Fulham's midfield and certainly looks like he could go on to be one of the signings of the season if he continues his early season form.



https://www.football.london/fulham-fc/fulham-overpay-jean-michael-seri-15135984

WhiteJC

 
Mitro On Fire For Serbia

Aleksandar Mitrović hit a brace in Serbia's 2-2 UEFA Nations League draw with Romania on Monday evening.

He put his side in front in Belgrade when he got the decisive touch on a scramble inside the box, but they were pegged back when Nicolae Stanciu converted from the spot shortly after half-time.

Mitrović's second was a thing of beauty. Despite the attentions of three defenders just inside the area, the striker shielded the ball well with his back to goal, before flicking it up and sending a volley between his markers and beyond an unsuspecting goalkeeper.

It was a strike worthy of winning the match, but Romania fought back once again and earned a point courtesy of Marius George Tucudean's strike five minutes later.

The draw keeps Serbia joint top of Group 4 in League C, following their win over Lithuania on Friday.

Scotland made a winning start to their Nations League campaign when they saw off Albania 2-0 at Hampden Park.

Kevin McDonald played the first half of the encounter before being replaced by Stuart Armstrong, with a Berat Xhimshiti own goal and Steven Naismith strike sending Scotland to the top of Group 1 in League C.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2018/september/11/mitro-on-fire-for-serbia

WhiteJC

 
Loan Round-Up

Elijah Adebayo is making quite the name for himself in Wiltshire, as he scored the only goal in Swindon's 1-0 win over Morecambe. The Robins found themselves down to ten men after 35 minutes but it was Adebayo's goal ten minutes prior to that which saw Swindon leave with all three points. The strike was the forward's second in as many games as he continues to thrive under Phil Brown. Swindon now sit seventh in League 2, poised in the final play-off position.


Elsewhere, Magnus Norman and Steven Humphrys faced off in an entertaining 3-3 draw between Scunthorpe and Rochdale. Norman was beaten after just two minutes by a Lee Novak header, and then again on 18 minutes when Charlie Colclough scored his first for the Irons. Having found themselves 3-1 down, Rochdale responded well with goals from Oliver Rathbone and Matthew Gilliam securing a hard fought point. Humphrys entered the fray on 77 minutes as the points were shared at Glanford Park.

Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson enjoyed a prosperous debut in Vendsyssel FF's second round cup tie against Egen. The winger played in his side's 9-1 thrashing of the Danish minnows.

Tayo Edun and Marek Rodak weren't in action due to the Championship International break.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2018/september/11/loan-round-up


WhiteJC

 
Man City handed Danilo injury boost ahead of Fulham fixture

Danilo has been sidelined with injury since the World Cup, but appears to be pushing for a return.

Manchester City have been handed a timely injury boost as players return to training following the international break.

With Kevin De Bruyne and Claudio Bravo still long-term absentees and Raheem Sterling withdrawing from England duty with a back problem, City were due some good news on the injury front.

And now full-back Danilo - another player who has been out of the first-team picture for some time - appears to be back in training.

Danilo had been out since picking up a foot injury in training for Brazil during the World Cup. He did not feature during City's pre-season tour of the US, or in any of their opening Premier League fixtures.

Instead, Kyle Walker and Benjamin Mendy have occupied the full-back positions in Pep Guardiola's side so far this season.

But they could now have competition for their places, as a post on Gabriel Jesus' Instagram profile suggests Danilo is back in training with City.

Posting a picture of the two Brazilian internationals, Jesus wrote: "Back to the trainings, and look who appeared. Good to see you back to practice my brother."

Former Real Madrid defender Danilo, 27, signed for City last summer for £27m. He made 38 appearances last season, but failed to hold down either full-back position as his own.

Danilo may not be match-fit for Saturday's clash with Fulham, but his return is definitely a boost for Guardiola and City as they embark on a gruelling Autumn schedule with many midweek games.



https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/man-city-danilo-injury-news-15136512

WhiteJC

 
Wonderkid given chance & Tom Cairney on road to recovery - Fulham during the international break

Fulham headed out to Spain for a warm weather training camp - here's what Jokanovic will have hoped to have taken from the trip

Fulham headed out to Spain to undergo a warm weather training camp as Slavisa Jokanovic looks to ensure his team are prepared for the recommencement of the Premier League this weekend.

The head coach revealed before the break that he would be putting his team through a mini pre-season over the course of the international break, with those players who were not selected for international duty jetting off to Murcia to get some more fitness under their belts.

That included Tom Cairney, who continued his recovery from an ankle injury, as well as youngsters Matt O'Riley, Tyrese Francois and 15-year-old Harvey Elliott, who is impressing at the club already.

With 12 new faces coming in over the summer, Jokanovic juggled the first four games of the season with the need to get points on the board while trying to find out his best XI, with the new faces also trying to settle down in west London after their moves.

One win, one draw and two losses represents a decent haul despite the juggling act, but Jokanovic will be hoping after the trip to Spain that Fulham can really start to get their top flight campaign going.

Here's what the head coach will have hoped to have taken and learnt from the training camp.

Better defensive cohesion

If there is one thing we've seen from Fulham so far this season, it's that defensive problems are the main cause of concern.

But that is to be expected somewhat, with a completely new back four being signed, while half of the games have been played with a brand new goalkeeper too.


(Image: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire)

One of the main reasons for this trip was to get players used to how Jokanovic wants them to play, while also allowing the side to get to know one another a bit more and settle in.

Most of Jokanovic's defence remained behind - Sergio Rico, Fabri, Maxime Le Marchand, Calum Chambers, Denis Odoi, Joe Bryan and Alfie Mawson were all at the training camp, with Marcus Bettinelli, Cyrus Christie and Timothy Fosu-Mensah the only players on international duty, while Tim Ream remains injured.

That gave him the perfect opportunity to get more training under their belts as well as game time, with Bryan, Le Marchand, Mawson and Odoi all starting in the 1-0 win over ATK.

And that back four brings me onto my next point.

A settled back four

We've seen Jokanovic swap and change his back four over the first few games of the season, but I think that the back four against ATK represents what he sees as his best going forward.

Bryan looks to be the first choice left back, which comes as no great surprise, but it's looking likely that the two centre backs could be Mawson and Le Marchand.


(Image: John Walton/PA Wire)

After signing from Swansea City in the summer, the feeling was that Mawson was always going to be the first-choice centre half and that it was a toss-up between the others as to who would partner him.

And with his early season performances, it looks like Le Marchand could be the other half of the pairing.

If Jokanovic does go down that route, it will mean that three of the back four are left footed - an unusual sight in football but not one that I think should cause any worry.

I don't think Odoi will be the right back - none went to Spain with the club with Christie with the Republic of Ireland and Fosu-Mensah with the Dutch U21s so the versatile Belgian slotted in there.

I believe that role will fall to Fosu-Mensah, who has started life well at Fulham and has been impressive in his last two games.

A settled back four should start to see those defensive errors become less and less.


(Image: Henry Browne/Getty Images)

A standard level of fitness

This is a fairly obvious one - Fulham go on warm weather training camp to Spain to gain fitness.

But the important thing for Jokanovic is ensuring his side all have a base level of fitness in order for them to be able to play is style of play and so that he knows they're all of the same standard.

Five players arrived on deadline day this summer and although they had pre-seasons with their former clubs, those levels will have varied greatly.

The way Fulham play, dominating the ball and harassing opponents, needs a level of fitness that Jokanovic installs into his side over pre-season, and with their usual late business in the transfer windows it's no wonder they're traditionally late starters.

Having the players who didn't go on international duty, with three of the five who arrived on the final day also present, means Jokanovic now knows exactly what fitness levels his players have heading into the next games.

Tom Cairney's recovery

A promising sight was seeing Cairney on a training bike as he steps up his recovery from that ankle injury he sustained against Burnley.

It looks unlikely he'll be ready in time for the trip to Manchester City on Saturday but it was encouraging to see him moving with the ankle not causing him too many problems on a bike.

He didn't feature in the game against ATK but Jokanovic will now have a good idea of the time frame that he will be out for, with late September looking the time the skipper could be back in action for the side.

Another positive note was Floyd Ayite managing 60 minutes on his return from injury, with this being a real pre-season for the forward having missed the entirety of the pre-season schedule in the summer.

A closer look at Harvey Elliott

Fulham's 15-year-old wonderkid is starting to get some recognition and Jokanovic was able to get a closer look at Harvey Elliott during the trip to Spain.

The last 15-year-old to train with the first team was Ryan Sessegnon, and we all know the rest of his story up to this current day.


(Image: Victoria Jones/PA Wire)

Elliott has impressed the head coach and played 45 minutes against ATK and nearly scored in what was a good performance with the first team.

He's featured for the U18s this season and has been impressive, scoring a first half hat-trick in an 8-0 win over Nottingham Forest in a friendly earlier on in the campaign and has been tracked by the likes of Barcelona and Chelsea since he was just 14.

Elliott still hasn't even signed scholarship terms at Fulham because he's too young and can't discuss one until January under Premier League rules, but with Jokanovic's trust in youth it looks likely that the youngster will remain at the club and follow the same pathway to first team football as Ryan Sessegnon.



https://www.football.london/fulham-fc/wonderkid-given-chance--tom-15136227

WhiteJC

 
Marcus Bettinelli, the future of wonderkid Harvey Elliott & Manchester City test - Fulham Q&A

Our Fulham reporter Ryan O'Donovan is on hand to answer any questions as Fulham prepare to take on Manchester City

The international break is almost over but Fulham face the daunting prospect of travelling to the Etihad to take on Premier League Champions Manchester City.

It represents a sharp welcome back to the the top flight for the newly promoted side, whose first four games have seen them win one, draw one and lose twice.

But they're improving all the time and the trip to Spain to undergo a warm weather training camp will have improved fitness levels and created more cohesion between Slavisa Jokanovic's new-look Fulham side, with 12 new faces still getting to grips with life in London.

Meanwhile, Tom Cairney is continuing his road to recovery while Marcus Bettinelli was rewarded for his fine form last season with a call-up to the England senior squad, who face Switzerland this evening in Leicester.

With nearly everyone fit and ready to start for Fulham, Jokanovic still faces the selection headache of what his best XI is, something he will have hoped to have gained more insight from after their trip to Spain.


(Image: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)

The trip to City will represent the side's toughest challenge so far this season and it will be interesting to see how Jokanovic approaches it - before the Tottenham Hotspur game he was adamant playing their usual style was better than going for a 0-0.



https://www.football.london/fulham-fc/marcus-bettinelli-future-wonderkid-harvey-15136878


WhiteJC

 
Partnership: FirstPoint USA

We are pleased to announce that we have agreed a partnership with FirstPoint USA as our official University Scholarship partner.

The agency will be working closely with our academy players to try and assist them for life after Fulham. FirstPoint USA help young players find a college in America to assist with not only their academic life, but they will represent their University in a reputable and competitive league in America. The creation of a pathway to America will provide an alternative route for those released by the Club under our Academy Player Care Initiative.

This was a programme that Ex-Fulham legends Clint Dempsey and Brian McBride undertook and we join Burnley in a partnership. The organisation offers full football scholarships and partial football scholarships as a potential route into the MLS. They are the world's leading authority in American Sports scholarships since 2001.


Head of Academy Player Care, Lee Hagger, commented: "Having worked with Andrew Kean and the Firstpoint team over the past few years we were impressed with their expertise, professionalism and commitment to help place our boys with top US Collegiate Programmes. Fulham and Firstpoint have similar core values and, like us, care about the young players and what happens to them next. We trust Firstpoint to help our ex Academy players secure scholarships which will enable the players to continue studying and playing at a high level."

Academy Director, Huw Jennings added: "Soccer in the USA is becoming more and more popular and this combined with the excellent reputation of American Universities makes this opportunity enticing for any young player."

FirstPoint USA's Chief Executive, Andrew Kean, has stated: "We are delighted to secure a formal partnership with Fulham Football Club and further extend our relationship with its academy. As Fulham embark on a new and exciting season in the Premier League, we will be supporting both the academy and its staff, creating new opportunity for released academy scholars at universities throughout the USA."



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2018/september/11/firstpointusa

WhiteJC

 
City v Fulham: Supporter information

Below you will find important service information ahead of our home match against Fulham on Saturday 15th September, kick-off 3:00pm. Supporters are advised to arrive no later than 60-minutes prior to kick-off and to not bring any bags unless essential.

SECURITY


    All bags will be searched and tagged prior to stadium entry. Please only carry what you feel is necessary as bags larger than 16.5 x 12 x 6.5 inches will not be permitted
    Arrive early, allowing time for security checks; turnstiles open 90-minutes before kick-off
    Less bag searches will speed up entry to the ground

With safety and security measures of paramount importance we ask supporters to:

    Be vigilant at all times and if you see anything suspicious, tell a steward right away
    If you see anything that could pose an immediate threat to safety, call 999
    In an emergency, listen to the Public-Address instructions and follow them
    If told to evacuate, do so immediately
    Do not place yourself in danger by filming events on mobile devices
    Move right away from the stadium as quickly as possible for your safety and to allow clear access for any emergency vehicles
    Once you are safe, follow the local police force on Twitter for news updates on the situation

FREE UPGRADES

For this match, upgrades for Seasoncard Holders is complimentary. You do not need to make any adjustment to your Seasoncard in order for a concession to enter on an Adult ticket.

Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult (over 18) for all matches played at the Etihad Stadium. We advise you carry photo ID to prevent any issues entering the stadium.

ACCESSIBLE ENTRANCE TRIAL – W DOOR

Further to supporter feedback and a review of the operation, there will be a trail with regards to a new queueing system for the accessible entrance at W door only. If successful, subject to feedback this will be introduced at D, H and S entrances.

The Club's access statement along with further information can be found here.

TRAVELLING TO THE STADIUM

Ensure you check travel conditions before setting out. For directions and stadium maps including walking routes, please click here.

Major road works are currently taking place on the Manchester Salford Inner Relief Road, the highway will be reduced from 2 lanes in each direction to 1. There will also be an overnight closure on the M60 between junctions 10 and 12 clockwise. Please allow extra time and plan your journey in advance.

CHANGES TO HILLKIRK STREET VEHICLE ACCESS POST MATCH

Due to increased footfall post-match, supporters who park in and around the Philips Park Road area will no longer be able to drive along Hillkirk Street for a limited time after the match. We advise that you use Cambrian Street and follow the signs for the diversion. The restriction will be lifted as soon as it is safe to do so.

PRE-MATCH ACCESS TO THE CITY STORE & TICKET OFFICE

To access the campus during the day, supporters should park in the Blue Car Park off Alan Turing Way.  A charge of £10 will be applied upon entry but will be refunded upon exit*.  The shuttle service will be available for supporters that require assistance to reach the top of Joe Mercer Way.

Disabled supporters who use a wheelchair can access the parking adjacent to the City Store via the main Entrance at Rowsley Street (Gate 11) until 12.30pm.  You will be required to show your Blue Badge at the gate. For access after 12.30pm, disabled supporters will be required to show their matchday car park pass if they have one, and if not they will be required to park in the Blue Car Park. *Vehicles that accessed the City Store and remain on-site after 12.30pm will not receive a refund.

TICKET COLLECTIONS

All home supporters who are collecting tickets may do so from the Stadium Ticket Office located in City Square, behind the stage. For this match, we are open from 9am until 3.15pm. Supporters are strongly advised to collect at least 60-minutes before kick-off and all supporters will be required to show Photo ID.

If you have received a print@home ticket please ensure you have printed this off, on white A4 paper prior to leaving for the match.

OFFICIAL MATCH TICKET

All tickets are located in the home area for the use of Manchester City supporters only.  The Club does not have a neutral area and visiting supporters identified in the home areas will face ejection. It is important that you have purchased, and are in possession of, the correct ticket and that it is activated to allow you access into the stadium.

SAFE TICKET BUYING

Valid tickets for Manchester City Football Club matches (home and away) should only be purchased from Manchester City or an official, authorised seller. The Club accepts no liability for tickets purchased through unofficial channels. Click here for further information.

CODE OF CONDUCT: RESPECT THE BADGE

If you ever witness crime, vandalism, violence, drugs, the use of smoke bombs and pyrotechnics or abusive behaviour from home or visiting supporters, inside or outside the Etihad Stadium, make contact with a steward as soon as you can and report your concerns. Supporters are reminded that persistent standing is not allowed during the match and are asked to remain in their designated block at full time until leaving the stadium. The pitch area should not be entered at any time.

Manchester City is proud to support the Kick It Out campaign. Download the KIO reporting app today.

The entire Etihad Campus, including roadways, car parks and concourses, is smoke free. Use of electronic cigarettes is also prohibited. We operate a strict, no re-admission policy and there will be no opportunity to leave and re-enter the stadium.

The Ticket Office is open Monday to Friday 9am to 5:30pm. Supporter Services is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Both facilities will open at 10am on Thursday and are closed on Weekends & Bank Holidays, except where there is a First Team home match. We will be open from 9am until 3:15pm for this match.  For queries, please call +44 (0)161 444 1894 (option 1). To keep up to date with all the current ticketing information follow our official service Twitter account,@ManCityHelp



https://www.mancity.com/news/tickets-and-travel/tickets-and-travel/2018/september/man-city-v-fulham-premier-league-etihad-stadium-supporter-information-tickets-travel

WhiteJC

 
Transfer Battle: André Schürrle vs Adama Traoré


Wolves and Fulham both had very similar summers. Both were promoted to the Premier League, and both spent a lot of money.

Wolves spent over £60m on transfers during the summer, whereas Fulham broke the £100m mark. After winning the Championship last season, Wolves' manager Nuno Espírito Santo showed his intent of taking the Premier League by storm and the signing of Adama Traoré was a signal of this intent.

Similarly, after winning the play-off final last season, Fulham manager Slaviša Jokanović equally showed the London club's ambition in making a move for André  Schürrle.

Both players may prove vital in both clubs' first season back in the Premier League, so let's compare these two transfers...

André Schürrle
Fulham signed Schürrle from Borussia Dortmund on a two-year loan deal in one of the most bizarre transfers of the summer.

This was a World Cup winner with Germany and a Premier League winner with Chelsea, and he was moving to a newly promoted outfit.

This may have surprised many fans that haven't been following the German's career since he left Chelsea in 2015, but it has been on a decline. This resulted in him missing out on a place for his nation's World Cup defence, so he needed a fresh start.

That's where Fulham offered him a new lease of life. An ambitious club that play a good brand of football and were keen on bolstering their squad was the perfect destination for the 27-year-old.

The German has made a good start to life at Craven Cottage, bagging two goals in four games, as Fulham sit in 13th place. Furthermore, as Aleksandar Mitrović looks to be coming into form for The Whites, this could be a very promising season for Schürrle.

Although this is only a loan deal, the potential of it becoming a permanent is a real possibility, particularly if his two year spell is successful. But from Fulham's perspective, two years may be ample to build a bedrock in which they can remain in the Premier League. The German can create the success that will allow new players to join Fulham, as they can be seen as an ambitious club that has potential of winning silverware potentially.

It's the fact that this is a player with proven quality that has joined the squad that makes this such a good transfer for Fulham. This is a man that assisted Germany's World Cup winning goal; a claim that very few can make in the Premier League. The addition of his versatility makes this one of the best coups of the summer. Schürrle can play on either wing, or even striker if needs be, which may prove crucial if injuries strike the London club.

Overall, this is a fantastic signing, one which will not only ensure Fulham's survival in the top flight, but can help them push on to becoming a genuine top ten side in the Premier League.
TT Grade A

Adama Traoré

As Wolves signed Traoré for £18m from Middlesbrough it was a sign of the ambition by the Portuguese manager Nuno, as the club also broke their transfer record.

At 22-years-old as well, the former Spain under-21 international has a bright future ahead of him. His power, pace and skill set mark him out from other young talents in the league. Furthermore, coming from Barcelona's famed academy means that he has the credentials to be a world-class player.

The powerful winger is waiting for his first start in the Premier League after four games, only starting in The Wanderer's League Cup victory over Sheffield Wednesday. However, that has not stopped him making an impact when coming from the bench so far this season.

His scorching pace and power leaves defenders struggling to handle him. This caused former Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood to describe the former Barcelona player as 'a bit of Messi and Ronaldo', when he was at Villa Park, which goes to show the ability of the player.

His match winning goal against West Ham was a glimpse of what he can provide to Nuno's side. His raw pace to beat the chasing defenders, as well as his powerful finish was a brilliant showcase of what he can offer to Wolves this season.

The one negative regarding this transfer is that Traoré (valued at £16.2m on Transfermarkt.co.uk) remains an unknown quantity. He has had two spells in the Premier League with Aston Villa and Middlesbrough, and while he looked impressive at times for The Boro, he flattered to deceive.

However, he has matured since then, and this season may be the one where he stamps his mark on the Premier League. From Wolves' perspective, this may also be a very good investment, as there is a chance that the youngster could be on the way to some of Europe's biggest clubs in the future. Overall, a very good signing.
TT Grade A-

TT Verdict:


This battle is between the present and the future. Traoré is certainly the future for Wolves, while Schürrle can make an immediate impact for The Cottagers.

That is not to say that Traoré cannot make an impression instantly for Wolves, likewise, Schürrle still has a future at Fulham at the age of 27.

Therefore, this battle is almost too close to call as both clubs made superb signings.

The fact that Schürrle can make, and has already started to make, such an impact at Fulham means he just wins this battle. The German can provide stability and security in the Premier League, whereas his Spanish rival may not necessarily have the credentials to do that for Wolves.

While Fulham have only signed the German on a loan, that could well become permanent in the future, so it isn't that much of a negative. In fact, Fulham actually saved themselves a transfer fee, and could end up paying a lower price if Schürrle were he to join them in the future.

The fact that Schürrle has a greater chance of defining Fulham's first season back in the top flight means he just wins this battle.



https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/features/transfer-battles/transfer-battle-andre-schurrle-vs-adama-traore/