Saturday Fulham Stuff (25/05/19)...

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This is how much money relegated Fulham, Huddersfield Town and Cardiff City got in the Premier League last season
The Premier League is the most cash rich league in the world so it's no surprise that teams earn tens of millions of pounds for even a short spell in the top flight.

But how much money did relegated Cardiff City, Huddersfield Town and Fulham earn last season?

It's fair to say they won't be short of cash as they return to the Championship for the new campaign.

The second tier's new arrivals each earned in the region of £100million last season for their share of tv rights and other commercial deals.

Bottom of the league Huddersfield earned the least of the three teams with a total of £96million, while Fulham bagged over £101million and Cardiff earned over £102million.

With parachute payments it's fair to say that the three sides will be operating in a very different league financially than the likes of Leeds United and Sheffield Wednesday who will also be targeting promotion next season.


(Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

The Premier League payments include a share of the top flight's £2billion tv deal as each of the three teams had between ten and 13 of their league fixtures broadcast.

Meanwhile, league champions Manchester City earned £150million from the tv deal.

Newly promoted Sheffield United and Norwich City will get their own cut of the money next season along with either Aston Villa or Derby, depending on who wins Monday's play-off final.

The play-off final is reportedly worth over £160million to the winner.

As if their cut of the Premier League tv money wasn't enough, the three relegated teams will have tens of millions of pounds of parachute payments with West Brom's parachute fee for last season reportedly £40million, with £35million set to follow this year.

The money teams receive for a short stint in the Premier League raises questions over the growing gap between the top and second tiers of English football, and how clubs without parachute payments will be able to compete without breaking financial rules.



https://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/football/this-is-how-much-money-relegated-fulham-huddersfield-town-and-cardiff-city-got-in-the-premier-league-last-season-67307

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Report: Levante defender Chema Rodriguez is keen to join Fulham

Fulham will be playing Championship football again next season but they are still well placed to lure La Liga centre-back Chema to Craven Cottage.

Fulham are looking to reinforce their famously shaky back line with the signing of Levante defender Chema Rodriguez, according to El Desmarque.

The Cottagers conceded more goals (81) than any other team in the Premier League as they were relegated in a disastrous first season back in the top flight.

If Scott Parker is to have any chance guiding Fulham into the promotion positions in 2019/20, the club must spend to reinforce a very obvious Achilles heel.

That is where Chema comes in. An old-school defender who loves throwing his body on the line, the 27-year-old impressed for Levante last season as they narrowly avoided relegation from La Liga.

And according to El Desmarque, Chema is very interested in the prospect of joining Fulham this summer as he wants to prove himself in English football.

There are other, as yet unnamed, clubs who also hold an interest in a defender who's contract runs out in 2020.

Interestingly, Chema was a target for Cardiff City in January but Super Deporte reported that he turned down a deadline-day switch to South Wales as he did not want to be involved in a relegation battle.



https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2019/05/24/do-report-levante-defender-chema-rodriguez-is-keen-to-join-fulha/page/1/

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'They'd be excellent signings' – Fulham plot transfer deals for clinical pair: Opinion

Fulham manager Scott Parker is moving quickly to prepare for life in the Championship, with both Dwight Gayle of Newcastle United and Britt Assombalonga of Middlesbrough earmarked as possible replacements for Aleksandar Mitrovic, if the Serb leaves Craven Cottage this summer, according to the Evening Standard.

Both Gayle and Assombalonga are proven strikers in the Championship, and Parker seemingly believes the duo could provide the goals to fire the Cottagers back to the Premier League at the first attempt.

So would the duo prove to be good signings for Fulham?

We discuss.........

Louie Chandler

"They are both proven Championship goalscorers so of course they are good signings.

"Gayle was excellent for West Brom last season and Assombalonga would surely thrive in Scott Parker's more attack-orientated side.

"It would be very interesting to see if they were capable of playing together. If so it could see Fulham promoted."

Alfie Burns

"They'd be excellent signings, and would cushion any blow of losing Mitrovic this summer.

"Both fully fit, they guarantee you 15 goals each and that will leave Fulham in a strong position on their return to the Championship.

"Your only problem would be getting them into the same side. Can Parker afford to go 4-4-2?"

Ben Lang

"These are two strikers with undoubtable quality at Championship level, but Fulham must be careful.

"They splashed the cash in the Premier League last summer, and they need to learn from their lessons.

"These are players who should only be signed if Fulham think they will fit in with the players already at the club. They would be good signings, but Fulham must be measured in their recruitment strategy."



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/theyd-be-excellent-signings-fulham-plot-transfer-deals-for-clinical-pair-opinion/

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Fulham XI Face Bromley

A Fulham XI side will take on Bromley as part of pre-season preparations on Saturday 6th July (3pm).

The First Team are in action earlier in the day in a behind-closed-doors outing, but fans are invited to attend the Hayes Lane fixture as Mark Pembridge's side take on a Bromley team with a strong Fulham connection.

Neil Smith played 90 times for the Whites in the late-90s and has been in charge of the Ravens since 2016, while their goalkeeping coach is none other than Jim Stannard, who sits eighth in our record appearances list.

Tickets are priced at £10 for adults and £5 for concessions, while under-16s can attend for free alongside an accompanying adult.

Fans can purchase a ticket in advance following the below link, or from the ground on the day



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2019/may/24/fulham-xi-face-bromley

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Opening Hours

Supporters wishing to renew their season tickets during this Bank Holiday weekend, please note the following operating times for the Ticket Office:

Date	Opening hours
Sat 25th May	10am-3pm
Sun 26th May	Closed
Mon 27th May	10am-3pm

Whilst the Ticket Office will be closed on Sunday, supporters will still be able to renew all weekend online at eticketing.co.uk/fulhamfc or via the postal application forms provided to fans.

In order to renew online, supporters are advised that they will need to log in to their online ticketing account.

The Ticket Office may experience a higher than normal volume of calls on Saturday and Bank Holiday Monday and we kindly ask supporters to be patient if renewing by telephone and we remind those renewing that the deadline is Friday 21st June.

Normal Ticket Office operating hours (9am to 5pm) will resume from Tuesday 28th May.

Please refer to our FAQ section for further information on a variety of topics regarding Season Tickets.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2019/may/24/opening-hours

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Forget Dwight Gayle – Fulham would be better off signing this affordable 15-goal striker for £15m instead

Fulham Opinion: Britt Assombalonga would be a cheaper and more affordable alternative to Dwight Gayle

According to London Evening Standard, Fulham are on the lookout for a new striker to replace Aleksandar Mitrovic, who has attracted interest from Premier League clubs West Ham, Crystal Palace and Southampton.

Evening Standard claims that the Cottagers have set a £30 million price tag for the towering Serbian centre-forward, with Dwight Gayle and Britt Assombalonga being identified as the potential replacements.

The same source claims that Newcastle United are likely to hold out for at least £20 million for Gayle, who scored 24 goals on loan at West Brom in the Championship this season.

Assombalonga, on the other hand, netted 15 times for Middlesbrough in second-tier this term and the Teessiders are looking to recoup the £15 million that they paid to Nottingham Forest to secure his services back in 2017.

Mitrovic scored 11 goals in the Premier League, as Fulham finished second last in the standings and headed back to the Championship after just a single season in the top-flight. The Cottagers are under pressure to cut down their expenses and balance the books, meaning that they have to let go of several of their first-team stars this summer, including Mitrovic.

The Cottagers are set for a massive squad clear-out in the summer transfer window, as they look to trim their wage bill and change their recruitment policy after having spent a fortune last time around. They will be hopeful of securing promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking and a prolific No.9 should be high on manager Scott Parker's recruitment list.

To put things into perspective, both the aforementioned strikers fit the bill perfectly, although it remains to be seen how much Fulham are willing to spend this summer. Gayle has established himself as one of the most lethal strikers in the Championship over the last few years, while Assombalonga has also progressed by leaps and bounds.

Gayle,28, boasts of a jaw-dropping strike rate in the second tier, having scored 59 goals in 100 appearances for the likes of Newcastle United, West Brom and Peterborough United. Assombalonga's scoring record, though not as eye-catching as Gayle's, is still quite good enough, with the Congolese international netting 59 times in 155 appearances.

Now, it doesn't require a rocket scientist to figure out that Gayle is more prolific and, undoubtedly, a much better natural finisher as compared to Assombalonga, who has a habit of blowing hot and cold. There are very few strikers in the Championship who are as lethal as Gayle but Fulham need to understand that forking out £20 million for the 28-year-old won't be the best idea, especially with the club under pressure to cut down their expenses.

Gayle, though prolific in the Championship, only has a modest record in the Premier League, while Assombalonga hasn't shown anything to convince that he is capable of delivering the goods in the top-flight. Hence, it is clear that Fulham should look at either of the above-mentioned strikers as only a short-term fix in the Championship to fire them to promotion.

With that being said, Britt Assombalonga presents a cheaper and more affordable alternative to Gayle and given that he is a couple of years younger than the Newcastle man, Fulham might be able to get a better resale value by offloading him once they make it back to the Premier League.

Assombalonga has been hovering around that 15-goal mark in the Championship over the past four or five seasons and there is every chance that a move to Fulham could help him raise his game to the next level.

The Cottagers are likely to have a good chance of making it back to the Premier League at the first time of asking if the 26-year-old manages to deliver 15-20 goals next season, which is very much possible given that he has shown a lot of promise in the recent past.

The Congolese hitman is capable of operating as the focal point of the attack and has a nice turn of pace to go with his above-average dribbling skills. An instinctive and opportunistic striker with good physical attributes, Assombalonga is very strong in the air and has a tendency of popping up at the right place and at the right time to find the net.

To conclude, Dwight Gayle is undoubtedly a class above Assombalonga, but if Fulham are reluctant to shell out £20 million for the Newcastle man, the latter certainly presents a good alternative for a more reasonable price.



https://www.mediareferee.com/2019/05/24/forget-dwight-gayle-fulham-would-be-better-off-signing-this-affordable-15-goal-striker-for-15m-instead/

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Former Crystal Palace man suggests key transfer move this summer that would upset Fulham fans

Danny Gabbidon has been speaking about the striker he feels could be a good fit for Crystal Palace this summer

Former Crystal Palace defender Danny Gabbidon believes Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic would be a good fit for the Eagles.

The Serbian striker has previously been linked with a move to Palace and his future is the subject of speculation this summer following Fulham's relegation from the Premier League.

And Gabbidon, who played for Palace between 2012 and 2014, feels that Mitrovic would work well in the system used by Eagles boss Roy Hodgson.

"I do. I think you look at the way that Crystal Palace play under Roy Hodgson. It is very much sit back and defend and then counter attack with the wide players, and I think if you play that way, you need that main striker who can be the focal point and link up play, hold the ball up and get his fair share of goals when chances come his way," he told Love Sport Radio .

And Gabbidon, who played for Palace between 2012 and 2014, feels that Mitrovic would work well in the system used by Eagles boss Roy Hodgson.

"I do. I think you look at the way that Crystal Palace play under Roy Hodgson. It is very much sit back and defend and then counter attack with the wide players, and I think if you play that way, you need that main striker who can be the focal point and link up play, hold the ball up and get his fair share of goals when chances come his way," he told Love Sport Radio .


Aleksandar Mitrovic vies with Christian Benteke (Image: Ben STANSALL / AFP)

"Christian Benteke came in and he hasn't really been up to the job. Connor Wickham has signed a new contract, but he has been injured for a long period of time. Alexander Sorloth came in, but it hasn't really worked out, and with [Michy] Batshuayi coming in on loan, I don't think that was ever going to be a permanent deal.

"But certainly Mitrovic is a player who I think suits how they play."



https://www.football.london/crystal-palace-fc/transfer-news/former-palace-man-suggests-transfer-16329408

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Fulham beating Sheffield United to sign this 29-goal Championship star would get them into the PL immediately – agreed?

Fulham opinion: Cottagers eye move for Britt Assombalonga – Good move?

According to a report in Northern Echo, Fulham are interested in making a move for Middlesbrough forward Britt Assombalonga during this transfer window.

After spending one season in the Premier League, the Cottagers are back in the Championship. They are looking to rebuild the squad under new manager Scott Parker.

Newly-promoted Sheffield United are also in the race for Assombalonga's signature (h/t Northern Echo), however, Fulham's financial might may help them in accelerating this deal towards their favour. (h/t Northern Echo)



As per the report, Middlesbrough will be happy to offload the 26-year-old to reduce their wage bill to a larger extent (h/t Northern Echo). They signed two years back from Nottingham Forest for a whopping fee of £15m. (h/t BBC)

Here's why Fulham shouldn't hesitate in making a move for the forward:

Cottagers need a goalscorer irrespective of Mitrovic's future

It is a hot topic these days that Aleksandar Mitrovic could be on his way out of Craven Cottage this summer. Fulham have also slapped a price tag of £30m if any club are eager to make a move for the Serbian international. (h/t Standard)

The 24-year-old was the Cottagers' main goal threat in the Premier League, where he scored 11 goals and provided three assists in 37 appearances.

But, irrespective of whether Mitrovic leaves or stays, Scott Parker's men need more goalscoring threat up top. For that reason, it is a no-brainer that they make a move for Assombalonga.

The 26-year-old can play in various positions across the front line and is a genuine threat to any defence. His record in the past two Championship seasons with Middlesbrough clearly speaks for itself, with 29 goals and two assists in 86 appearances after not being a regular starter in every game.

Conclusion

Hence, Fulham should beat Sheffield United in the signature of Britt Assombalonga. Even though the latter has the Premier League pull, the Cottagers must do everything to bring the player to Craven Cottage as he could help them enter the Premier League immediately.



https://soccersouls.com/fulham-beating-sheffield-united-to-sign-this-29-goal-championship-star-would-get-them-into-the-pl-immediately-agreed/

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Flashback: Fulham's 2018 Championship play-off final triumph



No, it's not been a pleasant season for a Fulham fan, has it? So much hope, but ultimately ending in disappointment. Yet, with Monday's Championship play-off final between Derby County and Aston Villa quickly approaching, Fulham supporters will be reminded of fond memories of their own triumph last season. In fact, it was against Aston Villa that Fulham regained a place in the Premier League after years out. What an occasion. What a day. What a win.

This was as tense an affair as you're ever likely to see. Fan favourite and captain Tom Cairney put them in the lead after just 23 minutes, giving them 70 minutes to defend that 1-0 scoreline. Villa seemed to offer very little in the first half but came out fighting in the second. With Jack Grealish at the helm, Villa pushed, pushed and pushed again.

Fans perhaps feared the worst when, with 20 minutes to go, Denis Odoi was shown a second yellow and given his marching orders. But Fulham were brave, resilient and got the victory that they so thoroughly deserved.

Fulham entered the Premier League with hope and genuine aspirations of achieving big things. It wasn't to be, however. From the word go it was abundantly evident that it was going to be a difficult year. They finished the season in 19th place, returning to the Championship after just seven league wins and 26 defeats.

Yet, they will remain hopeful that with Scott Parker now firmly in charge they can once again return to England's top division. They will certainly take inspiration from what was a phenomenal achievement last May.



https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/features/transfer-flashbacks/flashback-fulhams-2018-championship-play-off-final-triumph/