Friday Fulham Stuff - 10/01/20...

[WhiteJC]

Watford raiding the Championship to sign this top-class 26-year-old would be a coup

Why Watford should go all out to sign Fulham left-back Joe Bryan

According to Sky Sports, Watford are considering a bid for Fulham left-back Joe Bryan as Nigel Pearson looks to strengthen his defence.

Joe Bryan, 26, who joined Fulham from Bristol City in the summer of 2018, has been a regular fixture for Scott Parker's side this season, managing 27 appearances so far. He has bagged a goal and three assists across all competitions.

With the left-back enjoying an impressive campaign with the Cottagers, Watford must go all out for him this month.

Despite winning three games out of the last five, the Hornets still remain in the relegation zone. That simply tells the size of the job Nigel Pearson has in his hands after replacing Quique Sanchez Flores.

Pearson has instilled unity and fight in the players, with the mood around Vicarage Road slightly changing for good since last month.

However, the 56-year-old needs to do a lot more to help Watford avoid relegation from the top-flight. Signing a couple of new players should help him in his cause and the Hornets boss should prioritise strengthening the backline.

Watford have a long list of defensive injuries including long-term absentees Sebastian Prodl and Daryl Janmaat. Kiko Femenia and Jose Holebas have also struggled with injury problems, while Craig Cathcart suffered a knee injury in the 2-1 victory over Wolves.

For a relegation-threatened side that has conceded 34 goals in 21 games and is suffering from an injury crisis, it's a no-brainer for them to bring in new players.

That being said, Joe Bryan could be an answer to Watford's defensive injury problems. The 26-year-old is a defender who could add quality and depth to Pearson's squad.

As per WhoScored, the Fulham defender has averaged 2.9 tackles, 1.2 interceptions, 1.9 clearances and 0.2 blocks. With a goal, three assists and 1.1 key passes, Bryan would be the player to offer Watford some defensive diligence as well as attacking threat down the left flank.

Verdict

Jose Holebas and Adam Masina have fared below expectations this campaign, and with the former set to turn 36 in June, it's high time for Watford to consider a long-term replacement for the Greek.

And a player of Bryan's ability and experience should make him a perfect successor for Holebas at Vicarage Road.

With the Watford side clearly lacking defenders, it is imperative for them to land a new defender to keep their hopes of staying up in the Premier League. Having said that, Pearson should go all out for Bryan this month.



https://soccersouls.com/why-watford-should-go-all-out-to-sign-fulham-left-back-joe-bryan/

[WhiteJC]

Potential departure could pave way for Fulham man to get back into the side: Comment

Fulham's Joe Bryan has been linked with a move to Watford this week, and it could give full-back Steven Sessegnon the chance he's been waiting for at Craven Cottage.

Sky Sports have reported that Nigel Pearson is lining-up a move for Joe Bryan this month, with the Hornets having several first-team defenders out injured.

Bryan, 26, is in his second season at Fulham after signing from Bristol City in the summer of 2018. He'd developed a reputation at Ashton Gate as a fast and powerful full-back, capable of getting forward and helping out in attack.

Fans felt he was one of their better players in an otherwise dismal Premier League season last year but this time around, Bryan has received a lot of critics at Craven Cottage.

Nevertheless, Watford look keen on the full-back and if the deal goes through, Scott Parker has a replacement waiting in the wings.

Steven Sessegnon is a talented young full-back for Fulham but unlike his brother, Ryan, he's been unable to make a patch on the first-team as of yet.

The 19-year-old has suffered with injuries this season but has made a handful of appearances for both club and country, featuring on occasion for Aidy Boothroyd's Young Lions.

He's been kept out the team by Bryan who's played in all but one of Fulham's Championship games this season, with Sessegnon not starting a match for Parker's side since October – he's played just 53 minutes of football for Fulham since starting in the 2-2 draw with Charlton.

Sessegnon's omission from the first-team has been surprising for the most part but with an experienced Championship full-back in Bryan, game-time was always going to be hard to come by for 19-year-old.

But with the 26-year-old potentially leaving the club this month, it could give Sessegnon and unexpected chance to shine for Fulham in the second-half of the season, and properly introduce himself to fans.

They want to see him succeed at Fulham. After the excitement that his brother brought to the Cottage, expectations of Steven will inevitably be high.

But in the glimpses that Fulham fans have seen of Sessegnon, he's shown that he has similar traits to Ryan and that he could go on to be a really important, quality player for the club.

Time will tell with this one but it makes a lot of sense for Sessegnon to step in if Bryan departs – he's part of the future at Fulham, and could be an integral first-team member before the season's finale.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/potential-departure-could-pave-way-for-fulham-man-to-get-back-into-the-side-comment/

[General]

Potential departure could pave way for Fulham man to get back into the side: Comment

Fulham's Joe Bryan has been linked with a move to Watford this week, and it could give full-back Steven Sessegnon the chance he's been waiting for at Craven Cottage.

Sky Sports have reported that Nigel Pearson is lining-up a move for Joe Bryan this month, with the Hornets having several first-team defenders out injured.

Bryan, 26, is in his second season at Fulham after signing from Bristol City in the summer of 2018. He'd developed a reputation at Ashton Gate as a fast and powerful full-back, capable of getting forward and helping out in attack.

Fans felt he was one of their better players in an otherwise dismal Premier League season last year but this time around, Bryan has received a lot of critics at Craven Cottage.

Nevertheless, Watford look keen on the full-back and if the deal goes through, Scott Parker has a replacement waiting in the wings.

Steven Sessegnon is a talented young full-back for Fulham but unlike his brother, Ryan, he's been unable to make a patch on the first-team as of yet.

The 19-year-old has suffered with injuries this season but has made a handful of appearances for both club and country, featuring on occasion for Aidy Boothroyd's Young Lions.

He's been kept out the team by Bryan who's played in all but one of Fulham's Championship games this season, with Sessegnon not starting a match for Parker's side since October – he's played just 53 minutes of football for Fulham since starting in the 2-2 draw with Charlton.

Sessegnon's omission from the first-team has been surprising for the most part but with an experienced Championship full-back in Bryan, game-time was always going to be hard to come by for 19-year-old.

But with the 26-year-old potentially leaving the club this month, it could give Sessegnon and unexpected chance to shine for Fulham in the second-half of the season, and properly introduce himself to fans.

They want to see him succeed at Fulham. After the excitement that his brother brought to the Cottage, expectations of Steven will inevitably be high.

But in the glimpses that Fulham fans have seen of Sessegnon, he's shown that he has similar traits to Ryan and that he could go on to be a really important, quality player for the club.

Time will tell with this one but it makes a lot of sense for Sessegnon to step in if Bryan departs – he's part of the future at Fulham, and could be an integral first-team member before the season's finale.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/potential-departure-could-pave-way-for-fulham-man-to-get-back-into-the-side-comment/

Proof I'd ever needed that Charlie Jones doesn't know what to do with himself as a aspiring 'journalist' or sports writer.. trying to write about Fulham and joins football league world and can't even get steven sessegnon's position right.

Joe Bryan - left back
Steven sessegnon - right back.

Extremely frustrating reading half cooked things like this.

[Sting of the North]

Proof I'd ever needed that Charlie Jones doesn't know what to do with himself as a aspiring 'journalist' or sports writer.. trying to write about Fulham and joins football league world and can't even get steven sessegnon's position right.

Joe Bryan - left back
Steven sessegnon - right back.

Extremely frustrating reading half cooked things like this.

While I agree with the conclusion that many journalists (Charlie included) normally doesn't seem to know what they are talking about, I disagree that this particular item is proof thereof. Steven has played both left back and left midfield (and CB) for our youth teams as well as in the England youth teams all the way up to and including England U21. So it's safe to say that his career so far points to him being well capable of playing left back. Add to that Odoi's capabilities of playing both flanks, meaning Bryan's theoretical departure should in any case put Steven closer to a starting spot.   

[Neil D]

Whether Sessegnon can or cannot play on the left is secondary to the fact that he is not an adequate replacement for Bryan.

[Sting of the North]

Whether Sessegnon can or cannot play on the left is secondary to the fact that he is not an adequate replacement for Bryan.

I initially read it like it was suggested that a potential sale of Bryan would increase Sessegnon's chances of playing, which is true (everything else alike). Reading it again, it does appear like the author clearly seem to think that Sessegnon was primarily kept out by Bryan, which is of course incorrect since it has been clear that he has been primarily considered on the right side. So I agree with General in so far that the author seem surprisingly uninformed. I disagree however with the reason being that Sessegnon is a right back and as such could not replace Bryan. The author actually happens to almost reach a decent conclusion (that it may give Sessegnon another chance to shine), albeit seemingly by chance.

Further, whether or not Sessegnon is actually an adequate replacement for Bryan (which, at least at this point, is of course a subjective opinion in itself and not a fact by the way) was not even discussed really was it?