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Tuesday Fulham Stuff - 08/10/19...

Started by WhiteJC, October 08, 2019, 08:26:56 AM

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WhiteJC

3 things we clearly learnt about Fulham following draw with Charlton

Saturday lunchtime saw Fulham and Charlton Athletic play out a tighly fought match at Craven Cottage as the two sides shared the spoils.

Scott Parker's side will have come into the contest full of confidence after winning their previous two matches against Wigan and Reading, but the Addicks proved far tougher opposition.

But the Whites were forced to come from behind twice against Lee Bowyer's men, with Ivan Cavaleiro and Aleksandar Mitrovic cancelling out goals from Conor Gallagher and Macauley Bonne.

The 2-2 draw saw the South Londoners slip out of the play-off places and down into seventh place as we enter the international break.

So, looking back at the clash, here are THREE things we learnt about the side...

Resilient

It may have been a match the fans wanted to see won, but they at least saw their team exhibit a valuable trait.

Only once before this season, against Cardiff, have they successfully come from behind to get something from a match, so to do that twice in one game will have pleased Parker no end.

In the future, they will want to start killing of contests with a bit more efficiency, but for now this is something to be pleased about.

Versatility needed

During the clash with Charlton, it was noticeable that the Addicks won the midfield battle, with the likes of Williams, Pratley, Gallagher and Cullen outnumbering Arter, Cairney and Johansen.

They stifled the Whites' play and it made it very hard for the deadly front-three to get involved and work their magic throughout.

In the future, Parker will need to figure out a different way to play. They will face far more stubborn opposition than Charlton as well.

Strength in depth

Once again, Fulham's strength in attacking depth saw them rescue a point from the clash.

Cavaleiro and Mitrovic both found the back of the net but with Bobby Decordova-Reid coming off the bench to provide an assist, it showed that they will always have a chance of getting back into a game.

No other club in the division can boast as much proven attacking talent and it is encouraging to see Parker utilising it as much as possible.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/3-things-we-clearly-learnt-about-fulham-following-draw-with-charlton/

WhiteJC

Fulham and Charlton show why the Championship is so compelling


HOW OFTEN does a crowd filter out of a football stadium feeling they haven't really been entertained? All too frequently, there's a collective shrug of the shoulders, comments like, "not bad" or "they tried", although supporters of the winning team console themselves with the result, a case of points over performance, function over form.

Not so the 18,500 people who witnessed Fulham against Charlton, a four-goal thriller that could have been won by either side. Fast, furious stiff, a little niggle here and there, and a couple of ejector seat goals. What's more, the atmosphere was, at times, intense, boosted by a healthy contingent from South London, fans who are clearly enjoying Charlton's return to the Championship.

Fulham's form had taken a turn for the better again with two wins, against Wigan and Reading. When they faced Wigan a week earlier, they had not won for five league and cup games, now they are unbeaten in five, thanks to the 2-0 victory against the Latics and a midweek mauling of Reading (4-1). Draws can be destructive when you're chasing promotion, but stick a couple of wins in a sequence and it suddenly looks far rosier. Charlton, meanwhile, had won half of their 10 league games and were sitting comfortably around mid-table, just one point behind Fulham.

A couple of years ago, Charlton looked like a very unhappy club, largely due to the fans' dislike of Roland Duchâtelet, the Belgian portfolio club owner. Charlton were relegated to League One in 2016 and they spent three seasons at that level before winning promotion via the play-offs in 2019. The club was losing more fans than any London club in the previous few years, but there's a sense of revival about Charlton at the moment, even though they are said to have the lowest budget in the Championship. They are averaging 18,000 at their home games this season.

Duchâtelet wants to off-load the club, but he's asking £ 60 million, a figure that deters would-be buyers. He told the Charlton fans that he's been trying to sell for two years, but pointed to the annual losses suffered by Championship clubs as a deterrant. "It has become unaffordable for nearly anyone to own a football club in the Championship, meaning it is not easy to find a suitable buyer."

At least Charlton fans have a manager they like in Lee Bowyer, although he almost left in the summer after initially turning down his current contract. Bowyer started his playing career with Charlton before joining Leeds United in 1996 and also played for West Ham United and Newcastle United, among others. He's the proverbial "one of our own" that fans love to crow about.

Bowyer has done a lot to unify the club during a fractious period at the Valley. Certainly, the mood among the Charlton fans at Craven Cottage seemed buoyant and positive. They were in fine voice throughout the 90 minutes, letting us know that they "hate Millwall" and that their club had won the FA Cup.

They had plenty to sing about in the first half as their team went in at the interval a goal to the good, a neat low finish from Conor Gallagher, scored after 41 minutes. Charlton had looked the better side for much of the first period, but Fulham improved considerably in the second half and equalised on 55 minutes with a superb strike from Ivan Cavaleiro. Fulham were level for less than two minutes as Macauley Bonne headed Charlton back into the lead. Finally, Aleksandar Mitrović scored from close range in the 63rd minute to make it two each. Both sides could have snatched victory, but it was Fulham that went closest,  Anthony Knockaert crossing and "Mitro", who seemed to enjoy a robust afternoon, striking the crossbar. It was exciting stuff and kept the crowd interested right until the final whistle.

It does look as though the Championship is going to be a tight affair again this season, but Fulham, and their entertaining brand of play, should feature in the race for promotion. Charlton are not far away, either, although the 46-game programme will test them, but on the evidence of their draw with highly fancied Fulham, Bowyer's side shouldn't have much trouble keeping away from danger. This was a game involving two teams who were keen to play football and go for a result. It was 90 minutes that made you feel glad you had a Fulham season ticket in your back pocket!

@GameofthePeople

Photos: PA




https://gameofthepeople.com/2019/10/07/fulham-and-charlton-show-why-the-championship-is-so-compelling/

WhiteJC

Foundation Shirt Auction

The Fulham FC Foundation shirts worn in our 2-2 draw with Charlton Athletic have been signed by the players and are now available for fans to bid on.

Supporters can head to https://matchwornshirt.com/club/52 to bid on their favourite player's shirt, with the auction open until 12.30pm on Wednesday 9th October, with all proceeds going to the Fulham FC Foundation.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2019/october/07/foundation-shirt-auction


WhiteJC

Cairney's Nomination

Tom Cairney has been nominated for PFA Championship Player of the Month for September.

The skipper played every minute of what was an unbeaten month for Fulham, and scored in the draw at Sheffield Wednesday and home win over Wigan Athletic.

The award is decided by football fans worldwide, so show your support for TC by voting for him below. The ballot closes at 8am on Wednesday 9th October.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2019/october/07/tom-cairney-player-of-the-month-nomination

WhiteJC

Ivan Cavaleiro's stats v Charlton broken down after Fulham draw

Fulham boss Scott Parker will no doubt have been pleased to see his side's battling qualities on display in this weekend's clash against Charlton Athletic, with the Whites coming from behind twice at Craven Cottage to salvage a 2-2 draw against the in-form Addicks.

Parker saw his side pegged back in the first half against their London rivals, with young Chelsea loanee Conor Gallagher netting on 41 minutes to give the away side the lead against the run of play.

The west London outfit then came roaring back after the half time break, with Portuguese winger Ivan Cavaleiro netting a superb effort that flew into the top corner of the Charlton goal to level the scores on 55 minutes, before they fell behind yet again, with Macauley Bonne netting a looping header.

Then, Aleksandar Mitrovic rounded off the scoring by equalising with a scrambled close-range effort in the 63rd minute, in what was a hotly contested London Derby between two sides who have started the season well.

Many at Fulham will have no doubt been impressed by the performance of Ivan Cavaleiro during the early kick-off this weekend, and as such it is the Wolves loanee whose performance v Charlton is the focus of our latest FLW Spotlight piece...


Cavaleiro showed his clinical side up against the Addicks, with the Portuguese wide man scoring a brilliant effort with his weaker left foot, in what was his only shot in the entire 90 minutes against the Addicks on Saturday.

Aside from his goal-scoring exploits, Cavaleiro also recorded a respectable passing success rate of 72%, which he managed to register despite not having much of the ball for long periods of the game, with much of Fulham's attacks taking place through the middle of the field via Tom Cairney.

In terms of his productivity, Cavaleiro only recorded a largely disappointing dribble success rate of 29% against the Addicks, indicating that he needs to show more variation in his attacking play, with the winger tending to favour cutting inside as opposed to taking on full-backs down the line.

By continuously cutting inside, Cavaleiro was moving into an area in which Charlton had more bodies back to defend, thus making it more difficult for the winger to maintain possession, the best solution to this problem would be for the wide man to mix his game up a bit and go down the line instead of inside, particularly against teams who defend with two low blocks.

Parker will have no doubt been pleased with the ex-Benfica man's defensive contribution, with the Wolves loanee making four interceptions, thus showing that he can provide adequate cover for Joe Bryan when the former Bristol City defender embarks on one of his overlapping runs forwards, as he usually does.

With Cavaleiro having made a good impact since returning to the Championship this summer, Parker will be hoping that the Portuguese continues his early season form in the months to come, as Fulham look to establish themselves as one of the leading candidates for promotion.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/ivan-cavaleiros-stats-v-charlton-broken-down-after-fulham-draw/

WhiteJC

Harrison Reed sends honest message to Fulham fans regarding Charlton draw

Fulham midfielder Harrison Reed has admitted his frustration following his side's 2-2 draw with Charlton at Craven Cottage on Saturday afternoon.

Scott Parker's side were aiming for their third straight win following success over Wigan and Reading, but they were forced to come from behind twice against the Addicks in a lively London derby.

Conor Gallagher opened the scoring on the brink of half-time for Lee Bowyer's side before Ivan Cavaleiro levelled the scores for the hosts in the second period, while Macauley Bonne's second goal in three games was then cancelled out by Aleksandar Mitrovic soon later.

The result means Fulham are sitting in seventh place in the Championship heading into the international break, with Parker's side having now gone unbeaten in their last six league matches following two defeats early on in the season.

Despite extending their unbeaten run against Charlton, Reed has now taken to Instagram to confess his frustration with the outcome of a match which could have seen Fulham climb to the Championship.

However, the midfielder then went on to add that it has been a positive week for the Cottagers on the whole, as it saw them collect seven points from three games.

Reed, who is on loan from Southampton, played 45 minutes against the Addicks after replacing Harry Arter at the interval which meant he was on the pitch for both Fulham goals.

The Verdict

Fulham would have been targeting three points heading into the match against Charlton given their impressive run of recent form, so it is no surprise that there is some frustration following the result.

Bobby Reid had two chances to put Fulham in front with the scores at 2-2 and it would have been instances such as this that left the Fulham side frustrated at not obtaining maximum points.

However, Parker's men can still feel content with their start to the season as they head into the second international break, as they have really started to look like a side capable of winning promotion of late.

A positive from the match would also have been the fact that Mitrovic managed to find the net again. The Serbia international has now scored eight goals already this term and looks capable of firing his side towards a promotion charge.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/snack-poll/will-fulham-earn-promotion-this-season/


WhiteJC

EFL Championship 2019/20: Fulham vs Charlton Athletic – tactical analysis

Scott Parker's Fulham side were looking for their third win in a row when they came up against Lee Bowyer's Charlton Athletic, who were looking to also maintain what had been an impressive start to the 2019/20 EFL Championship. Fulham had impressed so far this season, with some great attacking football on offer, however, in key moments have lacked the key ruthless edge which could take them to the next level. As for the Addicks, an impressive start has slowly started to deteriorate after four defeats in five games. An interesting clash between the two London clubs was on the horizon.

The hype did not disappoint as a high packed 2-2 draw saw Charlton take the lead twice and Fulham making the comeback. Charlton defended extremely well against a Fulham side lit up with attacking ammunition and were able to be ruthless in front of goal. Fulham will be disappointed not to have picked up the three points, and once again lacked the ruthless edge to take them into the automatic promotion spots. This tactical analysis will look at the game itself and how both teams approached it to try and win. In particular, the tactics of both teams will be highlighted, with emphasis on player performances.

Lineups
In terms of the Lineups, Fulham started with their traditional 4-3-3 formation. Marcus Bettinelli started between the sticks, with Alfie Mawson and Tim Ream as the two starting centre backs. Joe Bryan and Steven Sessegnon were the two full-backs on the day, with the direct intention of providing attacking support to the forward players. Harry Arter sat in front of the back four to provide defensive stability. Tom Cairney and Stefan Johansen were the more advanced midfielders. They intended to provide creativity for the forward three. In terms of the front three, Ivan Cavalero and Anthony Knockaert were the two wide players, who looked to provide width for the lone striker in Aleksandar Mitrović.

As for Charlton, they lined up in a 3-4-1-2 formation. Dillon Phillips started in goal, with the back three consisting of Naby Sarr, Jason Pearce and Tom Lockyer. Jake Forster-Caskey and Chris Solly were the two wing-backs, who would both play an important role in the chance creation and attacking play that Charlton had. Darren Pratley and Josh Cullen were the two holding midfielders, their role was to provide defensive stability and get forward whenever possible. Conor Gallagher was the attacking midfielder, who was floating in various positions. In front of him were Jonathan Williams, and Macauley Bonne the two main strikers on the day.


The line ups for both teams.

Conor Gallagher
One of the main reasons as to why Charlton were able to get so much joy in this game was through the excellent performance from Conor Gallagher. In this game against Fulham, Gallagher was able to find space in key areas of the pitch, which allowed him to be a threat towards the Fulham goal. Furthermore, this ability to find space in key areas was a tactical usage of Gallagher's technical ability. With four goals and one assist thus far, the 19-year-old has impressed this season.

Playing in a central position behind the two strikers also means he can free roam into different positions across the pitch to create chances on goal. In this game, being in the box was key as it meant he was able to get on the end of second balls to shoot on goal. The system Charlton played also allowed him to get into these positions more regularly, as he was well protected by the defensive midfielders and the back three. In the image below, we can see the build-up for the first goal to put Charlton 0-1 up. Gallagher gets into a great position and the ball can get to him to slot home. This all comes through his excellent positioning and allows him to score.


Gallagher took up excellent positions in the box which allowed him the opportunities to score.

This pattern was seen throughout the game, as Gallagher was proving a real handful for the Fulham defence in these central positions. In the image below, he is at the edge of the box just waiting for the pullback to score. This was a real asset for Charlton as the Fulham defenders were unaware as to who to pick up when in defensive transitions.

The system Charlton operated in also helped Gallagher to do this, as he could operate in these positions whilst he was protected by his defensive midfielders. Gallagher was, therefore, key to the beneficial parts of the Charlton performance, and going forward by operating him in this way could bring Lee Bowyer huge success when it comes to creating chances and scoring goals.


Another example of Gallagher getting into space, and into a position whereby he can have a strike on goal.

Charlton defending
Another key reason as to why Charlton were successful in large aspects of the game was due to their excellent defensive shape which they managed to maintain in large spells of the match. By setting up with a three at the back, it meant that Charlton constantly had bodies behind the ball which denied Fulham spaces in key areas to hurt them. This was key to stop the likes of Cairney influencing the game.

Scott Parker values his Fulham side in creative and attacking possession-based football, so for Charlton to stop them from doing so was impressive, to say the least. When playing with a three at the back based system, it is often the case that the wing-backs will drop back in to make a back five. This was evident on the day for Charlton, as they would often drop into shape to prevent the wider players getting opportunities to attack. Credit must be attributed mainly to the three central defenders in Sarr, Pearce, and Lockyer. Throughout the game, they managed to keep a solid defensive structure and during defensive transitions which often occurred in this end to end game.

This was key to Charlton being able to keep Fulham at bay for most of the game barring the two goals conceded. The three at the back is a system that is working for them, and for them to continue their early success sticking to this may be key. Below, we can see this in action during the game, during the second half, in particular, keeping their shape as in this image was key. The back five were in excellent positions, which denied Fulham a clear avenue on goal.


An excellent example of Charlton maintaining their shape to prevent Fulham attacking.

As mentioned, Charlton were able to maintain this shape throughout most of the game. The back three were essential for this, as they were the rock that prevented Fulham from getting in on goal. Fulham played with a 4-3-3 which meant that they were often in behind using the likes of Ivan Cavalero and Anthony Knockaert. Having the three centre backs of Charlton in excellent defensive form meant they rarely got in behind, and there was always extra cover if one was out of position.

Below we can see a moment whereby Fulham were moving forward with the ball, and all three of the centre-backs are in excellent positions to prevent any further attacking transitions. This is a credit to the tactical organisation put in place by Charlton to prevent such attacks happening.


Charlton's back three managed to maintain this excellent defensive structure throughout the match.

Aleksandar Mitrović
Alexsandar Mitrović is one of the league's most clinical forwards and provides Fulham with an excellent striking option. Thus far he has 8 goals in the Championship and has been excellent in the majority of games he has played in. In this game vs Charlton, he not only scored but provided Fulham with an occupying force against a rigid opposing backline. Mitrovic was a constant nuisance for the Charlton defence and his ability to drag defenders out of position to allow others into play was second to none.

Since Charlton operated in a back three, it was up to him to make sure that they were not comfortable in defensive transitions. Mitrović was always on the shoulder of one of the three centre-halves in crossing situations, which always meant Fulham had an option to put crosses into the Serbian. In the image below we can see Mitrović in a great position in the centre of the box so a cross can come in and he can use his physical presence to head towards goal. This leads to the equaliser by Fulham and once again highlights his role in Scott Parker's system.


Mitrović gets into a great area for the cross to come in and for him to be able to head towards goal.

Furthermore, Mitrović's role when he was not directly in contact with the ball was also vital. His positioning was also key in allowing other attacking players to move forward with the ball. Being a focal point for Fulham meant that he was able to get into central positions, which allowed wider players to come inside more often. This is another key aspect of Mitrovic's game – bringing others into the game, as well as being a constant threat to the opposition with the ball.

Below, we can see the build-up for Fulham's first goal to make it 1-1, whereby Cavalero can make an excellent run inside to pick up the ball and have a clean strike on goal to level the game. The key aspect of this, however, is the role of Mitrović in occupying the central defenders so they cannot get there in time to stop the shot on goal. This once again highlights the excellent role that Mitrović played in Fulham's attacking play.


Mitrovic was key in the first goal for Fulham in allowing the attacking players to have space to run into.

Fulham's central midfield
Another interesting development was the role of Fulham's central midfielders. Whilst Harry Arter was sat between the two centre-backs, the role of Cairney and Johansen was to get into the box and create chances. This is something that both are very capable of doing and Scott Parker attempted to use this to their advantage. Tom Cairney would often make darting runs into the Charlton penalty area with the attempt of being another hub of creating goal opportunities. His stature and physical qualities make him an excellent individual to use in this tactic.

The reason behind this was to prevent Mitrović from getting isolated, which could have happened due to Charlton deploying a three at the back based system. This came to good effect especially in the second half, whereby Cairney was heavily involved in good attacking moves that Fulham were able to put together. In the image below we can see him making an advanced run past Mitrović and the Charlton defenders to get into the box and have a clear strike on goal. This was most certainly used as a tactic by Scott Parker to get bodies forward in search of a second goal.


A great run in behind the Charlton made by Cairney intending to hit the target

As mentioned earlier, this came to great effect when Fulham were hunting the second goal. Cairney almost acted as a second striker when they went direct, once again due to his excellent aerial ability and desire to get into the box. In the image below we can see the build-up to the second goal. Cairney makes an excellent run into the box and forces a great save from the keeper which is rounded off by Mitrović. However, the key reasoning for this goal was the initial run from Cairney through the lines of the Charlton defensive line. This once again highlights why Cairney is crucial in this role, as he can offer another dimension of attacking play.


Another example of this forward running from deep to create the second goal for Fulham.

Conclusion
To conclude, this was an interesting match in which both teams could have won. Fulham will be disappointed they were unable to make the final ball count and will be hoping they can fix this issue in future games. Charlton should be proud of their performance, especially in the defensive aspect where they were so strong. This analysis has attempted to highlight were both teams went wrong and did well and how they can improve going forward.



https://footballbh.net/2019/10/07/efl-championship-2019-20-fulham-vs-charlton-athletic-tactical-analysis-tactics/

WhiteJC

Jason Pearce praises Fulham player following Charlton's draw with Cottagers

Charlton defender Jason Pearce has paid tribute to Fulham's Aleksandar Mitrovic after marking the striker during the sides' 2-2 draw at Craven Cottage on Saturday afternoon.

Conor Gallagher had put Charlton ahead inside the first half before Ivan Cavaleiro equalised after the interval, but Macauley Bonne then put the Addicks back in front two minutes later only for Mitrovic to then cancel this out with the final goal of the match.

The result saw Fulham fail to continue their winning run and climb to the top of the Championship table, while Charlton are now sitting in 10th after bouncing back from their midweek defeat against Swansea to achieve a point against Scott Parker's side.

The match saw Charlton defender Pearce tasked with battling Fulham frontman Mitrovic who had already netted twice against Reading earlier in the week, and Pearce struggled to keep him quiet again as the Serbia international made it 2-2 on Saturday.

However, Pearce did produce an impressive defensive performance up against one of the most feared strikers in the division, and he took to Instagram to describe the battle as his 'favourite type of game':



Charlton defender Jason Pearce has paid tribute to Fulham's Aleksandar Mitrovic after marking the striker during the sides' 2-2 draw at Craven Cottage on Saturday afternoon.

Conor Gallagher had put Charlton ahead inside the first half before Ivan Cavaleiro equalised after the interval, but Macauley Bonne then put the Addicks back in front two minutes later only for Mitrovic to then cancel this out with the final goal of the match.

The result saw Fulham fail to continue their winning run and climb to the top of the Championship table, while Charlton are now sitting in 10th after bouncing back from their midweek defeat against Swansea to achieve a point against Scott Parker's side.

The match saw Charlton defender Pearce tasked with battling Fulham frontman Mitrovic who had already netted twice against Reading earlier in the week, and Pearce struggled to keep him quiet again as the Serbia international made it 2-2 on Saturday.

However, Pearce did produce an impressive defensive performance up against one of the most feared strikers in the division, and he took to Instagram to describe the battle as his 'favourite type of game':

Pearce has made nine appearances for Charlton in the Championship this season and has captained his side in their last two outings, while Mitrovic took his goal tally up to eight in 11 matches following the encounter.

The Verdict

This is a classy message from Pearce which came after the pair had locked horns for the 90 minutes, and it goes to show the level of respect Mitrovic commands from Championship defenders given his quality.

Pearce did a good job in helping Charlton's defence limit Fulham to just two goals, but it was always going to be a tough job to stop Mitrovic from adding to his already impressive tally for the Championship season.

Fulham pulled off an incredible piece of business to keep the striker at the Cottage for the season ahead, as he is clearly a player with Premier League quality who can easily fire Fulham to promotion this term.

Therefore, Lee Bowyer's side can reflect positively on the result despite squandering their lead twice during the match as Fulham are very much likely to be towards the top of the table this season.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/jason-pearce-praises-fulham-player-following-charltons-draw-with-cottagers/

WhiteJC

Did Southampton make a mistake by loaning Harrison Reed out again?

Harrison Reed is having a good time at Fulham and has emerged as a fundamental part of Scott Parker's promotion push in the opening stages of the season.

The midfielder left Southampton on a third loan deal in the space of as many years in the summer after it became apparent that he would not feature in Ralph Hasenhuttl's immediate first-team plans.

Reed was involved in Saints' pre-season preparations, but it seems he did not do enough to prove that he was worth keeping around for the campaign ahead.

The 24-year-old was not the only midfielder to depart, either, with Mario Lemina moving to Galatasaray on loan and Alfie Jones, now a converted holding player, temporarily joining Gillingham.

Hasenhuttl has historically preferred working with smaller groups of players, and he got his wish with a big summer clearout.

James Ward-Prowse, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Oriol Romeu are the club's remaining, natural central midfield players, with young duo Will Smallbone and Callum Slattery in reserve.

However, only two of the aforementioned quintet have genuinely convinced this season: Romeu for the first team and Slattery as the captain of the Under-23s.

Hojbjerg has been a dependable player for Hasenhuttl since the Austrian took charge, but he has had a considerably substandard campaign so far. Ward-Prowse, too, has not covered himself in glory.

In any other area of the pitch, it's likely that either, if not both, of the pair would have been dropped by now. But Southampton do not have this luxury, and the shortage of viable alternatives has forced Hasenhuttl's hand.

What Saints currently lack is a midfield player with the dynamism, energy and efficiency to complement Romeu. Hojbjerg has provided many of these qualities over the past year, but his recent form hardly inspires confidence.

Lemina would have been a good fit for the aforementioned demands, but his application rightly came into question as he sought a move elsewhere.

One man whose commitment to the cause and tenacious approach cannot be scrutinised, however, is Reed, who is shining in his third consecutive year of second-tier football.

At Norwich City, he operated largely as a right wing-back and earned plaudits. At Blackburn, he was moved into more familiar territories in midfield. But most recently, he has taken the Championship by storm, bossing battles in the central areas of the pitch and endearing himself to the Fulham faithful in the process.

Reed has displayed the requisite attributes that Hasenhuttl places great value upon, and one wonders whether or not the Austrian regrets letting the academy graduate depart without handing him a sufficient opportunity.

Fulham may well be the best place for Reed's development at this moment in time; he is, after all, playing regular football and growing in stature with each passing week.

However, Southampton ought to be kicking themselves that they didn't take a chance on the 24-year-old, who would certainly provide a more than intriguing option for the club in the midst of their current predicament.



https://readsouthampton.com/2019/10/07/did-southampton-make-a-mistake-by-loaning-harrison-reed-out-again/


WhiteJC

Fulham and the outstanding issues that could harm their top two hunt: Six Pointer

Fulham came from behind twice against to draw 2-2 with Charlton Athletic at the weekend, as Scott Parker's side look to break into the Championship play-off places.

The London-derby at Craven Cottage on Saturday was expected to a close-fought one. Twice Charlton took the lead and twice Fulham equalised, through Ivan Cavaleiro and then Aleksandar Mitrovic.

The draw leaves Fulham just outside the play-off places in 7th, with one point separating them from Bristol City.

Parker's side have been in-and-out of the top six this season, but have the look of a title-winning side at times.

In the latest FLW Six-Pointer, we discuss what issues Fulham need to get past if they're to finish in the top two this season.

"Who's Fulham's competition for automatic promotion this season?"

The Championship table is looking as tight as it ever has at this stage of the season – three points separate leaders West Brom from QPR in 9th.

West Brom are the obvious favourites for the title this season, and many expect Nottingham Forest and Preston to drop off towards the end.

Leeds and Swansea will likely be there or thereabouts come May, leaving Fulham with plenty of competition for automatic promotion this season.

"Does Parker have enough players to go the whole way?"

Squad depth will be crucial for Fulham this season, and there's one area of the team in particular that Parker may need to bolster in January.

The club has few out and out strikers – if Mitrovic were to be injured, they'd be left very thin up top.

"Do they need a back-up striker?"

Absolutely, yes. Mitrovic usually leads the line by himself and with eight goals this season, he's doing it well.

An injury to him would put a spanner in the works at Fulham, and he needs some back up at Craven Cottage.

"Are Fulham too inconsistent?"

Yes. Fulham have been climbing up the table slowly but they still only have two wins in their last seven in the Championship.

Too often they're throwing away leads or not performing to the levels they can – Parker needs to instil some form in his team to mount a serious promotion push.

"Are Fulham good enough away from home?"

With just eight points from five away games, Fulham are eighth in the Championship away table.

If they want to finish the season as one of the league's best two teams, their need to travel better.

They've proven they can score goals on the road – they scored four at Fulham before the Charlton game, but they don't do it often enough.

"Have they got enough goals in the team?"

Fulham are the joint-third highest scorers in the Championship with 20 goals from their opening 11 games.

That'll be a stat that pleases Parker, who's found goals in Mitrovic and also Tom Cairney, who's got five goals and three assists so far.

They've definitely got enough goals in the side to challenge for promotion.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/fulham-and-the-outstanding-issues-that-could-harm-their-top-two-hunt-six-pointer/

WhiteJC

Profit Players: Fulham's Aleksandar Mitrovic remains their best chance of a Premier League return

This article forms part of our Profit Players feature series, which is where Football Transfer Tavern takes a look at how well a player has fared since being signed or sold, using statistical figures and statements from pundits to prove how good of a deal the club managed to achieve.

After the near miss of the play-off semi-final exit to Reading in 2017, Slavisa Jokanovic and Fulham certainly looked like a team on the up.

That seemed to be the case as the Whites put a rather terrible autumn behind them and embarked on an unbeaten run over the Christmas period in 2017/18.

Clearly not satisfied enough with the squad's attacking firepower, Jokanovic took a chance in signing Newcastle United's Aleksandar Mitrovic on loan – and it could be fair to say neither Fulham nor the towering Serb have looked back since.

After salvaging a point for Fulham at the weekend, there seems to be no stopping Mitrovic providing at Craven Cottage, fully justifying their reported £22m outlay on the striker following his initial temporary deal that saw the side return to the English top flight after four seasons in the second tier.

That aforementioned unbeaten run stretched to the final day of the season in May 2018, a 23-game streak in the league which propelled Jokanovic and Fulham back to the big-time via the play-offs, with Mitrovic proving crucial.

He took three games to get going for Fulham, but things finally started to click. A run of 12 goals coming in the space of 13 league appearances saw Mitrovic's loan look like a steal from Newcastle, and the club's desire to keep the Serbian international in West London was demonstrated in their eight-figure splash on the striker the following summer.

His goals may not have been enough to keep Fulham in the Premier League, but he is still proving his worth, with Mitrovic back amongst the goals in the last few weeks after a three-game drought that had followed five successive goalscoring appearances.

The goalscoring exploits of Mitrovic so far this season serve only to add weight to the notion that without him, Fulham could struggle to return to the top flight at the first time of asking – nor would they have got there in the first place.

At £22m, that seems an economical price to pay to be in with a sure-fire shout of escaping the Championship.

The fact that his market value (according to TransferMarkt) has slightly edged past the mark Fulham paid for him over a year ago further strengthens that case, as it seems that Fulham's destiny highly depends on the goals of the 25-year-old hitman.



https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/features/profit-players/profit-players-fulhams-aleksandar-mitrovic-remains-their-best-chance-of-a-premier-league-return/