Monday Fulham Stuff - 05/08/19...

[WhiteJC]

Fulham's Deadly Attack Draws A Blank While Defensive Frailties Are Ever So Apparent

On paper, Fulham, bookies favourites for automatic promotion from the Championship this season, should have romped home with an emphatic victory in their opening game at Barnsley this afternoon.

Although Barnsley were unbeaten at home in League One last season, they fielded no less than six debutants.

This was a match that surely Fulham had to win, and show the rest of the teams in the Championship that their strike force was one to be scared of.

From the outset, once again Fulham started jittery. No confidence evident, it was like they were playing against Premier League opponents.

The home side very quickly noticed that here was a team that was lacking in self-belief. It only took 13 minutes before a poor attempt at a tackle by defender Joe Bryan allowed Barnsley to open the scoring. This paved the way for several more attempts from Barnsley to increase the lead. Just a lack of quality up front denied them from putting the game beyond the visitors during the first period.

The second half started much the same as the first with Barnsley looking the more likely to score next. Fulham mustered a few decent attacks, but hardly looked likely to equalise, even after Knockaert came on as a substitute.

This was not the performance Fulham fans, nor head coach Scott Parker expected.

A winning mentality needs desperately to be restored when the Whites entertain Blackburn next Saturday, or Parker's reign could become a very short one.



https://fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/fulhams-deadly-attack-draws-a-blank-while-defensive-frailties-are-ever-so-apparent/

[WhiteJC]

Shrewsbury Town In Advanced Talks To Sign Fulham's Nigerian Young Star

Nigerian midfielder Tayo Edun might end his association with Fulham before the close of the summer transfer window, according to reports.

Football Insider says Edun is in advanced talks with Shrewsbury Town over a permanent move to the Football League One club.

The 21-year-old is attracting interest from other Football League clubs but Shrewsbury Town are the favourites to land his services should he depart Craven Cottage.

Edun has appeared in seven official matches for Fulham's first team since making his professional debut in August 2016 and spent part of last season on loan at Ipswich Town.

He was an influential member of the England U19 squad that won the 2017 European U19 Championship and has caps for the Young Lions at U17, U18 and U20 levels.

One-time Nigerian Federation target Fejiri Okenabirhie and former Golden Eaglets invitee Daniel Udoh play for Shrewsbury Town.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel




https://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=33155

[WhiteJC]

3 things we learnt about Fulham after they suffer surprise opening day setback

Fulham fell to an opening day defeat at Barnsley yesterday, with the Tykes deservedly picking up all three points thanks to a first-half strike from Luke Thomas.

The Yorkshire side were quicker to every ball early on against the Cottagers and Scott Parker's side couldn't really live with the intensity of the hosts in what was an alarming display.

Even though things picked up after the break for Fulham, they struggled to create clear chances in what was a frustrating afternoon against the newly-promoted side.

After an embarrassing year in the Premier League last time out, fans of the Londoners were hoping to see more from the side in the second-tier but they were shown just how tough the Championship will be at Oakwell.

And, here we look at THREE things we learnt from Fulham's display yesterday...

Defensive issues remain

The main issue for Fulham last season was their defence and that is still the case.

Individual mistakes were once again an issue, with several players simply not tracking back, marking men and giving the ball away, but there was also a problem with the structure as Barnsley were counter-attacking against them at will in the first-half particularly.

You have to remember there were two divisions between these sides last season and Daniel Stendel has lost several key players from his promotion-winning team, yet they should have probably won this game more comfortably.

The only positive for Parker is that the window is still open and defensive reinforcements have to be a priority.

More energy is needed in the middle of the park

The midfield trio of Kevin McDonald, Stefan Johansen and Tom Cairney were crucial as Fulham won promotion two years ago and many felt they would pick up where they left off in the Championship.

But, it wasn't to be. Whilst Cairney could be excused, the other two looked way off the pace and the reality is that they couldn't cope with the energy, intensity and drive that Barnsley had.

They had no control of the game and a failure to keep possession and build play meant it was one-way traffic at times.

A more mobile, aggressive ball-winner may be needed before the deadline as well.

Anthony Knockaert has to start

Even if there were doubts over his fitness, or the fact Aboubakar Kamara had a good pre-season, it was still a surprise to see Knockaert starting on the bench.

And, it's safe to say it's a mistake Parker is unlikely to repeat again.

In the Frenchman, Fulham boast a genuine matchwinner at this level and he proved in his second-half cameo that he has got what it takes to be the main man in this division once again.

He was a bright spot on a miserable day for the Cottagers and will be key to this team moving forward.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/3-things-we-learnt-about-fulham-after-they-suffer-surprise-opening-day-setback/

[WhiteJC]

Scott Parker comments on Ryan Sessegnon situation

Ryan Sessegnon missed Fulham's defeat to Barnsley on Saturday.

Fulham boss Scott Parker has told The Express that he's not sure about Ryan Sessegnon's future at the club, but suggested he was only out of yesterday's game against Barnsley due to injury.

The Cottagers opened their season with a trip to Oakwell to take on newly-promoted Barnsley, with Parker's men tipped as one of the favourites for promotion.

However, Barnsley produced a fine display to claim a 1-0 win, with Luke Thomas scoring the only goal of the game for the Tykes.

Fulham will look to bounce back quickly, but there were questions asked about the future of teenager Sessegnon following Saturday's defeat.

The 19-year-old wasn't even in the squad, leaving many to wonder whether he's about to be sold ahead of Thursday's transfer deadline.

On Friday, The Sun reported that Tottenham Hotspur are now confident of sealing a £25million deal for Sessegnon ahead of the deadline, potentially ending a situation that has been going on for months now.

Parker cleared up Sessegnon's absence though, claiming it was nothing transfer-related and merely because he's been rehabilitating from a hamstring injury, and wasn't ready to play yet.

Parker – a former Spurs coach himself – did though add that he's not sure about Sessegnon's future, seemingly opening the door for Tottenham to finally get their man.

"Future-wise, I'm not sure," said Parker. "In terms of why he's not here with us is due to the fact he's coming back from a hamstring injury, which he's rehabbing. He's back on the grass jogging. He's progressing well."

"I'm not sure really. Obviously I've read all the speculation. We've all seen the speculation over the summer. To this point now there's been nothing which suggests to me that would be the case. We'll prep and plan with Ryan around," he added.



https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2019/08/04/scott-parker-comments-on-ryan-sessegnon-situation/

[WhiteJC]

Ryan Sessegnon is a luxury purchase for Tottenham

Tottenham would benefit from purchasing Ryan Sessegnon this summer, but his acquisition is not a requirement for Spurs this summer.

Ryan Sessegnon appears to be poised to become Tottenham's third signing of the summer transfer window. The young English starlet doesn't necessarily fill a need for Mauricio Pochettino, but he still represents a smart purchase for the club.

According to The Daily Mail, Tottenham and Fulham are still locked in discussions about the final terms of the potential move, but a transfer fee of somewhere around £30 million appears to be where things are headed. Some Spurs fans might criticize the club for spending such a substantial fee for a player who struggled in the Premier League last season.

That point of view is certainly understandable. Sessegnon's star has dimmed considerably to his brilliant campaign in the Championship two years ago. That doesn't mean he can't revive his career under Pochettino's watchful eye.

The real curious aspect of this deal is the fact that Tottenham don't really need a player like Sessegnon at the moment. Yes, depth is always a welcome feature of any Premier League squad, but it's not as if Spurs are in dire need of another player on the left side of their formation. Sessegnon's ability to play anywhere from left back to the attacking midfield adds to his value, but Pochettino's squad is well stocked on that side of the field.

The proper expectation is for Sessegnon to start his career at Spurs playing in defence. Ben Davies received a new contract from the club this summer so he's not going anywhere. Rumours have flown around about Danny Rose's potential status at Tottenham, but those stories have died down in recent days. It's very likely that Sessegnon will start his time in North London as his club's third choice left back.

That should turn out as a blessing in disguise for both the club and player. He's still a very young player who looked out of his depth at times last season for Fulham. It's highly unlikely that his injury plagued summer has permitted him to progress significantly. The chances of him being prepared to compete for a Champions League side at the moment are pretty remote.

His natural talent is still readily apparent when watching his game. Pochettino will have lots of time on the practice pitch to mold him into a proper Premier League player. Spurs fans will need to have patience with him if he does end up a Tottenham player within the next week. He represents a rare phenomenon for the club. Ryan Sessegnon is a luxury purchase from a club that isn't accustomed to such things.



https://playingfor90.com/2019/08/04/ryan-sessegnon-luxury-purchase-tottenham/

[WhiteJC]

EXCLUSIVE: Leeds, Fulham among eight sides battling for Spurs defender

Tottenham defender Cameron Carter-Vickers is being chased by nearly half the Championship, TEAMtalk can reveal.

The 21-year-old, who is a United States international, has come through the youth ranks at Spurs, playing four first team games for the club, but he has spent much of the last three years on loan at Sheffield United, Ipswich and last season at Swansea City.

Spurs are now set to let him leave again on loan, as he has two years left on his current deal.

Among those interested are Leeds, Fulham, West Brom, Derby, Bristol City, Middlesbrough, Luton and Barnsley.

Leeds lost Pontus Jansson to Brentford earlier this summer, and having already acquired Ben White on loan from Brighton, are considering going in for another centre-back.

Carter-Vickers made 30 appearances for Swansea in the Championship last season. All four of his senior appearances for Spurs came in domestic cup competitions.

He was involved in training with Mauricio Pochettino's first team on Saturday, but looks likely to leave before the end of the transfer window in a bid to get more gametime.



https://www.teamtalk.com/news/exclusive-leeds-fulham-among-eight-sides-interested-in-spurs-defender

[WhiteJC]

Harry Arter preparing to leave Bournemouth as Fulham emerge as favourites for his signature

Republic of Ireland international Harry Arter is on the brink of sealing a move away from Bournemouth, with Fulham emerging as red-hot favourites to sign the 29-year-old midfielder.

Arter was left out of the Bournemouth squad for their final pre-season game against Lyon on Saturday and now it has emerged that he is close to moving away from the Cherries in what is expected to initially be a loan deal with Fulham.

Arter returned to parent club Bournemouth after spending last season on loan at Cardiff and while he has impressed in their pre-season games over the last few weeks, all parties have been keen to seek a solution that for a player who has a contract that still has two years left to run.

Sheffield United, Cardiff and Stoke were among the clubs that have expressed an interest in the 29-year-old, but Fulham have emerged as the favourites to complete a deal with the player keen to remain in London, with Arter's brother-in-law Scott Parker in charge of the Cottagers and pushing to finalise a deal ahead of next Thursday's transfer deadline.

Arter was commuting to Cardiff throughout last season and while he was keen to remain in the Premier League, a switch to link up with Fulham would be harder to turn down as it would give him a chance to link-up with Parker would appeal and their training ground is close to the player's London home.

Fulham are expected to sell Ryan Sessegnon to Tottenham in the coming days, with the finances generated from that £30m deal likely to spark a mini-spending spree for Parker as he looks to mount a promotion challenge this season.

The Cottagers lost their opening game of the Championship season on Saturday as they went down to a 1-0 defeat at Barnsley.



https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/transfer-window/harry-arter-preparing-to-leave-bournemouth-as-fulham-emerge-as-favourites-for-his-signature-38372894.html

[WhiteJC]

Leeds United, Fulham and West Brom amongst 8 named sides chasing Spurs youngster

According to an article on the TEAMtalk website, Leeds United, Fulham and West Brom are three sides amongst a named octet chasing Tottenham defender Cameron Carter-Vickers.

21-year-old Carter-Vickers, an eight-cap USA international, has two years left on his current deal at the North London side and it is thought that he will spend a third consecutive season out of the club and on loan elsewhere.

The last two seasons, since his promotion to Spurs first-team squad, have seen him out on loan to Sheffield United (August 2017 – January 2018, 18 appearances – one goal), Ipswich Town (January 2018 –  May 2018, 17 appearances) and Swansea City (August 2018 – May 2019, 33 appearances).

TEAMtalk mentions Leeds United, Fulham and West Brom amongst a gaggle of chasing Championship sides that also includes Derby County, Bristol City, Middlesbrough, as well as recently promoted sides Luton and Barnsley.

Carter-Vickers has been at Spurs since arriving at the club from the Eastwood Academy and has progressed through the age ranks at Spurs. However, aside from two FA Cup and two EFL Cup appearances, the USA international hasn't managed to crack the first-team proper.

His experience, as it is, rests purely on 25 Premier League 2 appearances for Spurs alongside 64 appearances at Sky Bet Championship level for Sheffield United, Ipswich Town and West Brom. Yet, it is that experience, plus eight international appearances for the USMNT, that marks him out as a player who would interest EIGHT Sky Bet Championship sides.

As yet, none of the eight is credited with a move for him, although TEAMtalk say that he "looks likely to leave before the end of the transfer window in a bid to get more game time." With the current transfer window closing at 5 p.m. on Thursday, interested sides better get their house in order and speed up their interest.



https://the72.co.uk/141282/leeds-united-fulham-and-west-brom-amongst-8-named-sides-chasing-spurs-youngster/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham in battle for Carter-Vickers

Fulham are among a clutch of Championship clubs chasing Tottenham defender Cameron Carter-Vickers, according to a report this morning.

Spurs are ready to allow the American centre back, who has had loan spells with Sheffield United, Ipswich Town and Swansea City over the past three years, to leave White Hart Lane on loan again to gain further first-team football. Fulham are eager to add to their defensive options after Alfie Mawson's injury scare last week and yesterday's disappointing defeat on the opening day at Barnsley.

Scott Parker will face stiff competition in trying to bring in the centre half from Tottenham, where he spent a season coaching their under-18 side. Leeds, West Brom, Derby, Middlesbrough, Luton and Barnsley are reportedly all interested in bringing in Carter-Vickers, who made 30 appearances for Swansea last season in the Championship.

The 21 year-old, who has won eight international caps for the United States, has made four first-team appearances for Spurs, all of which came in domestic Cup competitions.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2019/08/fulham-in-battle-for-carter-vickers/

[WhiteJC]

Harry Arter set to leave AFC Bournemouth to join Fulham on loan

HARRY Arter is set to leave Cherries to join Fulham on a season-long loan, the Daily Echo understands.

The Republic of Ireland international completed a medical yesterday with the Championship side and hopes to conclude a switch in the next 24 hours.

Finer details of the deal are still to be confirmed, but it is expected that the loan deal will include a clause whereby the move could become permanent next summer.

Arter, 29, joined Cherries from Woking for just £4,000 in 2010 and has made 255 appearances for the club, netting 29 goals.

He spent the entirety of the 2018-19 campaign on loan at Cardiff City, but returned to feature in pre-season for Cherries during matches against AFC Wimbledon and more recently West Brom on July 26.

Arter was left out of the squad for friendlies against Lazio and Lyon in the past two days and is now expected to complete his switch to Fulham, who are managed by his brother-in-law Scott Parker.

The midfielder still has two years to run on his Cherries contract.



https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/sport/17814919.harry-arter-set-leave-afc-bournemouth-join-fulham-loan/

[WhiteJC]

Statement on incident at Barnsley

The Fulham Supporters' Trust is shocked to hear the allegation of a racist incident at Barnsley yesterday directed at Cyrus Christie's sister.

We condemn any such behaviour unequivocally and encourage anyone who witnessed the incident to contact the Club or the police with details.  We would particularly like Cyrus and his family to know that as Fulham fans we won't tolerate any form of discriminatory behaviour at our club.

We understand that the Club will conduct a thorough investigation and will await the outcome before commenting further.

This is an appropriate time to remind all fans that Kick It Out provides a number of ways for you to report any form of racism or discrimination at football including a form on their web site and the Kick It Out app. 



https://www.fulhamsupporterstrust.com/news/2019/08/statement-on-incident-at-barnsley/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham closing in on Arter capture

Fulham are closing in on the capture of Bournemouth midfielder Harry Arter, according to reports in the Irish press this morning.

The Irish international, who is the brother-in-law of Fulham manager Scott Parker, was left out of Bournemouth's final pre-season friendly against Lyon yesterday and is expected to join the Whites on loan in the next couple of days. The deal would complete Fulham's protracted attempt to bring in the experienced midfielder, who spent last season on loan at Cardiff in the Welsh side's ultimately unsuccessful fight against relegation from the Premier League.

Arter, who had attracted interest from a number of Premier League and Championship clubs, is understood to be very keen to move closer to his London home and team up with Parker at Fulham. The 29 year-old has made more than 250 first-team appearances in over ten years at Bournemouth, whom he helped to win promotions from League One and the Championship.

Parker has been keen to add depth to his midfield options having seen Jean-Michael Seri and Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa leave the club on loan over the past couple of weeks. Fulham have also been in need of a back up option to Kevin McDonald, who played as the holding midfielder in yesterday's disappointing opening day defeat at Barnsley.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2019/08/fulham-closing-in-on-arter-capture/

[WhiteJC]

Tottenham Set To Rekindle Their Interest In Serie A Fullback: Could It Affect The Sessegnon Deal?

According to Express, Tottenham Hotspur are ready to rival Juventus and AS Roma in the pursuit of Elseid Hysaj. The Napoli right-back has emerged as a prime target for the Lillywhites following the injury of Juan Foyth last week. The Partenopei value Hysaj at around £20 million but Spurs must be swift in their approach to sign the defender, with less than a week left before the transfer market in England slams shut.

Will Hysaj's arrival affect the Sessegnon deal?

Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with a move for Fulham starlet Ryan Sessegnon throughout the entirety of the summer. They are hopeful of securing the services of the England prodigy, who could cost around £25 million. But, one would argue that Hysaj's potential arrival could jeopardise Sessegnon's proposed move to North London as both the players play on the right flank. However, that is unlikely to be the case.

Hysaj is more of an answer to Foyth's recent injury rather than an alternative to Sessegnon. Besides, the latter is not an out and out fullback but a wide-attacker. That means Pochettino could utilise him as backups for Son Heung-Min and Lucas Moura.

As for the Albanian, he can be considered as a potential replacement for Kieran Trippier. The English international joined Atletico Madrid earlier this summer, leaving a massive void in the right-back department. But, Hysaj's addition to the club will offer Pochettino with a host of options in the said position.

It may financially affect Spurs' pursuit of other players

From a sporting perspective, Hysaj's arrival is unlikely to cause any conflict. But as far as financial terms as concerned, splashing almost £50 million for the duo of Sessegnon and Hysaj could significantly affect Spurs' pursuit of remaining midfield targets in Giovani Lo Celso and Bruno Fernandes.

Both these creative midfielders are valued over £60 million. At this moment, it's unclear whether the Lilywhites could still afford to spend over £100 million in the market, having already signed Tanguy Ndombele for a record deal. But, it's only fair to assume that making a move for the Napoli fullback could create a financial restraint for the club.

A lot will depend on the outcome of Christian Eriksen's ongoing transfer saga. The Dane is reportedly keen on leaving the club this summer, with Manchester United notably interested. However, his prolonged stay at Spurs would abandon the need for a new creative midfielder, allowing the club to make a move for both Sessegnon and Hysaj.



https://the4thofficial.net/2019/08/tottenham-set-to-rekindle-their-interest-in-serie-a-fullback-could-it-affect-the-sessegnon-deal/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham fans' group appeals for information after Cyrus Christie accuses couple of assaulting and racially abusing his sister

Christie accused a Fulham fan and his wife of hitting and racially abusing his sister after the match at Oakwell
Credit:  REX

A leading Fulham supporters' group have urged fans to contact the police with information after an alleged assault and racist incident involving Cyrus Christie at Barnsley.

Christie accused a Fulham fan and his wife of hitting and racially abusing his sister after the match at Oakwell on Saturday.

Fulham are currently investigating the claim and South Yorkshire police are understood to have been in contact with the club today. The alleged incident is expected to be treated as a criminal matter.

Christie came on as a substitute in the match, which ended in a shock 1-0 defeat for newly-relegated Fulham.

Fulham Supporters Trust said in a statement: "The Fulham Supporters Trust is shocked to hear the allegation of a racist incident at Barnsley directed at Cyrus Christie's sister.

"We condemn any such behaviour unequivocally and encourage anyone who witnessed the incident to contact the club or the police with details.

"We would particularly like Cyrus and his family to know that as Fulham fans we won't tolerate any form of discriminatory behaviour at our club."

Ireland defender Christie, who came on in the 33rd minute, first made the claim on Twitter at 6.41pm on Saturday, less than two hours after full-time.

Christie, who has spoken out about racism in the past, said: "To the Fulham fan that decided to hit my sister at the game today and his wife who justified his action with racist remarks I hope your proud of yourself and feel like a big man.

"You'll get what's coming to you. Regardless how you felt about the result your actions are shameful."



https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2019/08/04/fulham-fans-group-appeals-information-aftercyrus-christie-accuses/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham investigating alleged racial abuse of Cyrus Christie's sister
Ireland defender alleged sister was hit and abused during Cottagers' defeat at Barnsley


Fulham are investigating an allegation that defender Cyrus Christie's sister was hit and racially abused during the Cottagers' 1-0 defeat at Barnsley. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho

Fulham are investigating an allegation that defender Cyrus Christie's sister was hit and racially abused during the Cottagers' 1-0 defeat at Barnsley.

The Republic of Ireland international alleged the incident took place at Oakwell on Saturday, the opening day of the Sky Bet Championship season.

Christie wrote on Twitter after the game: "To the Fulham fan that decided to hit my sister at the game today and his wife who justified his action with racist remarks I hope you're proud of yourself and feel like a big man.

"You'll get what's coming to you. Regardless how you felt about the result your actions are shameful."

Fulham announced in a statement the club will take "the strongest possible action".

"Fulham Football Club is investigating an incident which took place in the away end at the Barnsley v Fulham fixture this afternoon," a statement read.

"Should the perpetrators be identified, the club will be taking the strongest possible action."



https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/english-soccer/fulham-investigating-alleged-racial-abuse-of-cyrus-christie-s-sister-1.3976932

[WhiteJC]

Imminent £25m Spurs signing means move for La Liga star unlikely

Fulham full-back Ryan Sessegnon is finally set to join Tottenham Hotspur, per the latest reports in the media.

However, the transfer would mean Spurs are unlikely to have the funds for another one of their summer targets – Real Betis' Argentinian midfielder Giovani Lo Celso.

According to the Daily Star, Mauricio Pochettino's side are set to get 19-year-old Sessegnon, having been rumoured to secure his services all summer.

The England Under-21 international, who turned heads as he broke through at the age of 17 during Fulham's promotion season two years ago, has just 12 months left on his deal. A fee for the youngster would reportedly be in the region of £20 to £25m.

Club stalwart Danny Rose has been rumoured to follow Keiran Trippier on the other flank out of the exit door, but he's been brought back into the fold in pre-season and the latest is that he's set to stay.

Sessegnon's arrival would give Rose competition in that area, while he's also able to play further forward.

But after signing Tanguy Ndombele for a club-record fee, another substantial deal could mean that Daniel Levy refuses to sanction another large fee for Lo Celso, with Betis reportedly holding out for £70m for the midfielder.



https://www.teamtalk.com/news/imminent-25m-spurs-signing-means-move-for-la-liga-star-unlikely

[WhiteJC]

Tottenham are set to include Josh Onomah in their deal to sign Fulham's Ryan Sessegnon for £30million

    Tottenham have been chasing Ryan Sessegnon's signature all summer
    Spurs are now set to include academy graduate Josh Onomah in the deal
    Onomah was on-loan at Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship last season
    19-year-old Sessegnon came through the academy system at Fulham 

Tottenham are set to include academy prospect Josh Onomah in their £30million swoop of Fulham's Ryan Sessegnon.

Barring an unexpected collapse, Sessegnon will complete his long-awaited switch to Spurs this week.

And Mauricio Pochettino is prepared to let Onomah leave for Craven Cottage to drag the deal over the line.


Ryan Sessegnon was relegated from the Premier league with Fulham last season


Sessegnon was part of England's Under-21 squad at the European Championships this summer

Cottagers boss Scott Parker has big interest in Onomah, 22, and Spurs are willing to use the midfielder as a makeweight in the deal.

Onomah has made 32 senior appearances for Spurs - but he is way down the pecking order under Pochettino and made just one senior appearance for the club last season.

Sessegnon has made it clear he want to leave Fulham for Spurs this summer and the talented youngster now looks set to get his wish ahead of Thursday's transfer deadline.



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-7319885/Tottenham-set-include-Josh-Onomah-deal-sign-Fulhams-Ryan-Sessegnon-30million.html

[WhiteJC]

Fulham boss Scott Parker explains Ryan Sessegnon's absence amid Tottenham Hotspur rumours

Ryan Sessegnon has been linked with Tottenham.

(Photo by Danilo Di Giovanni/Soccrates/Getty Images)

Fulham manager Scott Parker has explained that Ryan Sessegnon was injured for the opening game of the season, The Express reports. Sessegnon was missing from Fulham's squad as they fell to a 1-0 defeat against Barnsley to kickstart their Championship campaign.

Naturally, this prompted speculation about Sessegnon's future. The England U21 international has been linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur throughout the summer with reports in late July (The Telegraph) suggesting a deal was close.

When Sessegnon was missing from the Fulham line-up, many jumped to the conclusion that he was leaving. But Parker has since clarified that this was due to injury, although he is unsure whether the 19-year-old will stay or go.

Scott Parker on Ryan Sessegnon
Parker was quizzed about Sessegnon's future at Fulham and he replied (as per The Express): "Future-wise, I'm not sure. In terms of why he's not here with us is due to the fact he's coming back from a hamstring injury, which he's rehabbing.

"He's back on the grass jogging. He's progressing well."

TBR's view
It is difficult to tell whether this deal will get over the line. It has been a widely-reported transfer saga which has dragged on throughout the summer. Tottenham fans will be disappointed if they miss out.

Spurs could be waiting to see whether Danny Rose stays or goes before making a firm decision on Sessegnon's future. But they might not be able to afford to do this with time running out this summer.

If he stays, the teenager will provide Fulham with a major boost. Alongside Tom Cairney and Aleksandar Mitrovic, Fulham would have their dangerous trio from their 2017/18 promotion-winning season back.



https://tbrfootball.com/fulham-boss-scott-parker-explains-ryan-sessegnons-absence-amid-tottenham-hotspur-rumours/

[WhiteJC]

5 Thoughts: Barnsley 1-0 Fulham

Order, order! We'll have no discontent or ill-temper in this court of inquisition! Venting over a lukewarm coffee, I write this with a pleading sense of rationality, no matter how vexed we were following Andy Davies' damning final whistle on Saturday afternoon.

A dossier of incriminating questions will be asked and we have to have plausible answers. Yes, it was the opening fixture of a gruelling 46 game schedule, but it was the clueless manner in which we lost that stings the most. Maybe the weight of expectation to excel wobbled our heads, but Fulham's trip to Barnsley was an embarrassingly atrocious affair, nevertheless.

Without kidding ourselves, it's just a 1-0 loss at the hands of a side that were flying high after last season's triumphs. We're a wounded animal with multiple wounds to lick and it's only a matter of time until our claws are primed for action once more. A wake up call? Indefinitely, and with under a week left of the summer transfer window, we also need Tony Khan to pick up the phone and ready his chequebook for additional reinforcements. People, we're in for a frantic couple of days before Blackburn Rovers come to town.

Fulham's Vacant Familiarity
Last season, Fulham's defensive department was hideously substandard, and against fine-tuned opponents, we were ruthlessly plucked apart. We've had a full summer of rigorous regimes to solidify our shape and discipline, although after Saturday's feeble defeat, it's evident that absolutely nothing's changed. Incapable of forming a resolute understanding, Alfie Mawson and co. masqueraded as complete strangers with no direction or objective.

Daniel Stendel's men bolted from the traps and set about dismantling the Whites' flaky composition. The Tykes had not lost in 27 games at home – now 28 – under the German's command and their collective confidence rattled the visitors' crippled composure. In the 13th minute, Mike Bahre forged an opening for Luke Thomas to explore, an instance that shook the Parker's set-up to the core.

Gliding away from a floored Joe Bryan, Fulham scrambled to stunt the Barnsley debutante but there was no resolve. Barnsley could have compounded Fulham's plight before half-time, with Bahre and Mallk Wilks pulling strings and asking substantial questions of our structure. After the break, we simply couldn't recover. Granted, our midfield was constrained, however we simply can't rely on our current defensive personnel. There's a toxic element that needs quelling immediately.

Bryan's Blasted Outing
Our entire back four was a quivering wreck against Barnsley. Not one of them eased the nerves and as a collective they were their own worst nightmare. Joe Bryan's a player I've lauded in previous outings, but at Oakwell, there was something drastically unnerving about his overall application.

Alright, Bryan's overall performance will split opinion as many fans believe that he was actually one of our brighter performers, although I can't help but feel that the hangover of last season's relegation still looms over him. The 26-year-old was brushed aside and ironed out like your best Sunday shirt in the build-up to Thomas' pivotal strike. Where has his sense of urgency vanished to?

I'm not discounting the left-back's vital interceptions or his inclination to spurt forward on the break, they're flattering pluses to his ability, but he's often caught out of position whilst retreating, particularly when Barnsley opted to wield hoisted switches towards his general vicinity. Bryan will be a hugely invaluable component to our starting XI this season, that's a given, although it was a markedly disconcerting outing from a fullback that's revered as the division's finest.

Marked Mitro's Misery
Pledging his future to the club, Aleksandar Mitrovic is set to terrorise Championship defences, and hopefully Premier League rearguards, for years to come. The Serb is undoubtedly the hardiest hitman in the English second-tier, a force to be reckoned with, and Barnsley's Bambo Diaby and Mads Andersen tested their mettle admirably.

Barnsley's centre-half pairing had the measure of Mitro' in truth, quarantining the 24-year-old systematically between them. Acting as a lone striker, Mitro's regularly butted to his physical limits, and if he isn't supplied with credible opportunities to flex his dominance, his staunch presence is rendered ineffective.

Other than a whipping the ball over Samuel Radlinger's crossbar in the second minute, Mitro' barely had a sniff. Wide options, be it Ivan Cavaleiro and the like, couldn't manufacture advantageous phases where Mitro' could be pinpointed, a conundrum we endured last term in the top-flight. It's distressing, because an attacker of Mitro's prowess demands premium service, and we're failing to establish a favourable connection. Still, there's plenty of games to fine-tune alliances in the final third, so we've no need to panic, yet.

Wrong AK, Parker
In what dimension is Aboubakar Kamara a first-team starter? In what conceivable universe is Kamara more preferred than Anthony Knockaert? I thought Parker had an astute intelligence when composing matchday folds, so why on earth did the haphazard Frenchman last a full 90 minutes?

One thing AK47 will give you is intensity. We know this all too well, the man's a jet-propelled dustcart on a road to sheer destruction, but he offers very little else, other than aimless power and gut-wrenching dance moves. The temperamental 24-year-old squandered routine combinations at Oakwell and has the first touch of a JCB digger. He's not graced with vision, poise or enterprise, last season's castaway's a law unto himself and is, in numerous ways, a burden.

In and around the 18-yard box, Kamara saw blind and discarded support. Sure, he set Mitro' in the initial stages of the game with a baffling flash of elemental footballing ability, but he's far too narrow sighted to compete and cooperate in a squad that requires a harmonious team ethic. He's the kind of brutish juggernaut we need to emerge with 15 minutes to go, fresh legged, to jackhammer depleted, unsuspecting fullbacks into oblivion. AK is outrageously unpredictable, an occasional plus, but he is certainly not equipped to begin meetings at this level.

Right AK, Parker
At last, we can savour a winger with actual talent and acumen. Anthony Knockaert must have been rubbing his eyes in disbelief when he glared upon Parker's the team sheet (so were we, of course), but with 25 minutes to go, our most recent summer signing was introduced at Stefan Johansen's expense.

As soon as he made contact with the turf from the dugout, Knockaert constructed prosperous sequences and exhibited a shrewd awareness of how the game was developing. Qualified in his responsibilities, where others clearly aren't, the Brighton & Hove Albion loanee diversified Fulham's spells in possession, a dimension that was absent before his initiation.

On the parameter of the penalty area, net in his sights, the 27-year-old laced goal bound, a dipping effort that Radlinger had to palm away from danger. Knockaert is not shy of creation and will graft tirelessly to come out on top of his opponent. The Frenchman can shift momentum instantaneously and has an accomplished left wand. If there's only room for one AK in Parker's starting string, surely he's the desired mainstay.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2019-08-04-5-thoughts-barnsley-1-0-fulham/

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Tottenham Hotspur to include Josh Onomah in Ryan Sessegnon deal?

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly on the verge of completing a deal for Fulham's Ryan Sessegnon, with English midfielder Josh Onomah expected to move in the opposite direction.

Spurs have been strongly linked with a move for Sessegnon, who made 35 Premier League appearances during the 2018-19 campaign, throughout the summer.

According to the Daily Mail, Mauricio Pochettino's side are now closing in on a swoop for the 19-year-old, who will see his current deal at Craven Cottage expire in June 2020.

The report, meanwhile, claims that Onomah will be heading to Fulham as part of the deal, with the Championship side's boss Scott Parker a huge admirer of the midfielder.

The 22-year-old has made 32 first-team appearances for Spurs, while he has played 48 times in the Championship over the last two seasons during loan spells at Aston Villa and Sheffield Wednesday.

Fulham opened their 2019-20 campaign with a 1-0 loss at Barnsley on Sunday afternoon.



https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/spurs/transfer-talk/news/spurs-to-include-onomah-in-sessegnon-deal_367038.html