Friday Fulham Stuff - 17/07/20...

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Results

Thursday
Leeds	1-0	Barnsley

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Nottingham Forest and Fulham leading the chase for 24-year-old

Nottingham Forest and Fulham are said to be leading the chase for Oxford United defender Rob Dickie, according to Sky Sports' Transfer Centre (14/07, 10:24).

The Championship play-off hopefuls are said to be among a host of Championship clubs interested in signing Dickie, who has endured a fantastic campaign with Oxford in Sky Bet League One.

Dickie, who has made 113 appearances since joining Oxford from Reading in 2018, played an influential role in helping Karl Robinson's side reach the play-off final this term.

Oxford were defeated by Wycombe in the end, but the 24-year-old's efforts this season shouldn't be forgotten, after making 49 appearances across all competitions.

A host of Championship clubs, including Nottingham Forest and Fulham, are reportedly interested in signing the centre-half, who is likely to cost around £2-3m this summer.

Forest and Fulham are both looking to win promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs this term, but Sabri Lamouchi and Scott Parker will be keen to strengthen their squads this summer.

The Verdict

Dickie is a huge talent who has gone from strength to strength since leaving Reading and dropping down a division.

I think he'd really suit the Championship now – he's tall, strong, commanding in the air and also very good with the ball at his feet, which would make him a perfect signing for someone like Forest.

I think Lamouchi needs to bolster his defensive options. Michael Dawson is getting older, and the likes of Yohan Benalouane and Michael Hefele face uncertain futures at the club.

Younger, fresh competition is needed.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/nottingham-forest-and-fulham-leading-the-chase-for-24-year-old/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham and Nottingham Forest "leading the chase" for League One star

According to Sky Sports' live Transfer Centre (10:24, 14th July), Fulham and Nottingham Forest are "leading the chase" for Oxford United centre-back Rob Dickie.

Oxford United's star defender Rob Dickie's impressive performances in League One has seen him attract plenty of transfer interest. As covered here on The72, Dickie has previously been linked with Leeds United and Southampton.

Now, it has been claimed that Dickie is attracting significant transfer interest. The Oxford United defender is said to be subject to interest from Fulham and Nottingham Forest, with the pair said to be "leading the chase" for his signature ahead of the rest of the teams interested.

Dickie's performances in League One almost helped fire Oxford to Championship football. However, the U's fell at the final hurdle, losing to Wycombe Wanderers in the League One play-off final.

Over the course of the season, Dickie played in 49 games across all competitions, scoring one goal and providing four assists. He was a mainstay in Karl Robinson's defence, captaining their last five games of the League One season.

In total, Dickie, 24, has played in 113 games for Oxford United since signing from Reading in January 2018. Along the way, he has scored three goals and laid on five assists.

With Oxford failing to earn a spot in the Championship, the club are said to be prepared for a flurry of offers for Dickie.



https://the72.co.uk/180391/fulham-and-nottingham-forest-leading-the-chase-for-league-one-star/

[WhiteJC]

Is Harrison Reed the answer to Southampton and Ralph Hasenhuttl's Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg dilemma?

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg looks set to leave Southampton this summer, but is Ralph Hasenhuttl's answer for replacing him already at the club?


Harrison Reed during Fulham's clash against West Brom (Image: Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images)

April 2017. That's the last time Harrison Reed played a first-team game for Southampton.

It was a Premier League victory away to West Bromwich Albion under Claude Puel, and Reed came on for the final few minutes as a replacement for Jordy Clasie.

Southampton's substitutes that day included Mouez Hassen, Jeremy Pied and Martin Caceres, while Dusan Tadic joined Clasie in the starting 11.

In short, it was quite a long time ago. However, with Reed impressing on his third loan spell away at St Mary's, has he given Ralph Hasenhuttl something to think about as the Saints manager prepares for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg's potential exit?

After spending the 2017/18 campaign on loan at Norwich City and last season with Blackburn Rovers, finishing in the bottom half of the Championship table with both, Reed joined Fulham for the 2019/20 campaign and has thrived for a team all but guaranteed to end the season in the top four.

The prospect of playing under former England midfielder Scott Parker appears to have brought the best out of the 25-year-old, while he has benefited from playing alongside the richly experienced Harry Arter in the middle of the park.

Reed has started 21 games for the Cottagers this season, but his importance to the team has only grown since the resumption of Championship football in June.

Seven of his starts have come in June or July, including victories over Queens Park Rangers, Birmingham City, Nottingham Forest and Cardiff City which have helped Parker's team cement their play-off place, and he must be doing something right to play such an important part at a crucial time in the season.

Reed's pass completion of 87.8% puts him seventh in the Championship this season and top when it comes to English players, and marks a notable improvement on the 76.4% he posted at Ewood Park last term (all stats via WhoScored).

He's one of five Fulham players in the top seven, but his 48.7 passes per game represent more than colleagues Arter and Stefan Johansen, while he has also put in more tackles on average than the pair - two per game, behind only Joe Bryan and Josh Onomah for his club and around 50th of 340 players to feature in more than half of their team's minutes in the Championship this season.

While he has only one assist to show for it, the number of passes per game represents his best average in a single season, at a crucial time for his career.

With Hojbjerg potentially on his way, linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur which could see Kyle Walker-Peters move in the opposite direction, Hasenhuttl will be considering the need for midfield reinforcements. However, while Reed might not have been a brilliant fit for Mark Hughes, Southampton's style might well call out for a player in his mould.

Hasenhuttl was asked about Reed's time on loan at Fulham this season and whether he could play a role in the Saints side next season.

"We are always focusing on our players who are out on loan and I am very happy when they perform well," Hasenhuttl told reporters.

"Harry is definitely a player who also showed here that he is normally perfect for our philosophy because he definitely is a very aggressive player against the ball, he can win balls and also with the ball he has a lot of qualities.

"This is important for us to see how he can develop and how good he plays."

Hojbjerg's pass completion has been a little lower than Reed's over the past two seasons, at 77.7% this time around and 82.9% in 2018/19, with his average number of passes between 55 and 56 in both campaigns.

He's also more of a tackler than Reed, averaging 2.5 per game this season and at least two every season since joining from Bayern Munich in 2016. However, among Southampton's current squad, James Ward-Prowse is the only other player averaging more than two, while no player with more than 10 appearances can match Reed's passing in terms of either volume or success.

With Reed's Southampton deal set to expire in 2021, it's a make-or-break time for his future on the south coast, and Hasenhuttl will need to decide very quickly if he sees a role for the midfielder at the club where he made his professional debut back in 2013.

If the Saints manager decides against easing him back into the fold, one would imagine Fulham will be happy to take him off Southampton's hands, perhaps at a knock-down price.



https://www.hampshirelive.news/sport/football/football-news/harrison-reed-fulham-southampton-news-4331177

[WhiteJC]

Games for the week-end 18/07
For our last home "league" game of the season we welcome Sheffield Wednesday to the Cottage.

With only a draw against West Brom we're now subject to the lottery that is the play-offs. It's odd, getting to the play-offs should be seen as a successful season, but for some reason it doesn't feel as it is?

Our last two "league" games are going to be non-events as effectively we've attained our final position. Forest, on 70, can't catch us and we'd need either West Brom or Brentford to loose both their remaining games for us to reach 3rd and I can't see either of them doing that.

Strangely we're the only team in the top 10 who have "nothing" to play for, so in essence we've two competitive "practice" games for the play-offs, continuing our unbeaten run would be good for the fans confidence, I'm not sure if a defeat would make too much difference to the players? as I expect that they "know" they can win every game, it's us fans who'll suffer from the jitters.

Hopefully AK47 and Tom will be fit enough, giving AK47 two full games would go a long way? to brining him up to match fitness, if he's available he'd be my first name on the team sheet.

I'll be keeping an eye on Forest, Cardiff, Millwall and Swansea as we'll have to play one of them, hopefully two of them as that would mean we'd get to the final. A win or a draw for Forest should confirm their top 6 spot but I can see Millwall sneaking past Cardiff.

Our recent games against Wednesday see them come out slightly on top with 5 wins, 4 losses and 3 draws.

COYWs

Games of interest...
Friday 17th
Huddersfield v West Brom

Saturday 18th
Charlton v Wigan
Stoke v Brentford
Fulham v Sheff Wed
Middlesborough v Cardiff
QPR v Millwall
Swansea v Bristol City

Sunday 19th
Derby v Leeds
Barnsley v Forest

come on over to the forum and join in the discussion...
https://www.friendsoffulham.com/forum/index.php?board=1.0



http://www.friendsoffulham.com/wordpress/?p=1210

[WhiteJC]

Midfield star's warning to Fulham team-mates ahead of Sheffield Wednesday clash

The Cottagers face the Owls at Craven Cottage on the back of a five-match unbeaten run

In-form midfielder Harrison Reed has told his Fulham team-mates not to expect Sheffield Wednesday to "roll over" when the two clubs meet at Craven Cottage this weekend.

The Cottagers automatic promotion hopes were all but ended after their goalless draw at rivals West Bromwich Albion in midweek. The result means Fulham trail the second-placed Baggies by five points with two matches left to play.

They host Wednesday, who still have an English Football League misconduct charge hanging over them and could face a potential points deduction if found guilty, on Saturday looking to stretch their unbeaten run to six matches.

Reed told Fulham's official club website : "You certainly can't get complacent.

"They [Wednesday] will be playing with a lot of freedom and no pressure, and that can sometimes bring the best out of you.

"We're fully aware that they're not going to roll over; they'll be wanting to get three points.

"Any footballer will tell you how competitive this sport is. You never play not to win; you're always playing to get the three points. We'll have to be at it, and we will be at it. We'll prepare like we would for any other game. We need to keep up the form and build confidence going into the last games."

Fulham, who won promotion to the Premier League two years ago via the play-offs, have gone 483 minutes without conceding a goal.

"We'll definitely be going into those two games looking to keep our momentum," said Reed. "We're in good form at the moment.

"Normally if you go to West Brom and get a 0-0 draw, you'd probably be happy with that. We've got four clean sheets on the bounce and we'll be looking to take that momentum into Saturday, and then into Wigan as well.

"It's important to maintain that confidence going into the play-offs."



https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/football/news/sheffield-wednesday-fulham-harrison-reed-18607666

[WhiteJC]

Referee confirmed for Sheffield Wednesday's trip to promotion hopefuls Fulham

The Owls take on the promotion-chasing Cottagers at Craven Cottage on Saturday

Referee Darren England has been selected to take charge of Sheffield Wednesday's forthcoming clash with Championship promotion candidates Fulham.

The South Yorkshire based whistler has issued two red cards and 91 bookings in his 33 matches so far in the 2019/20 campaign.

Saturday's tussle will be the first time England has officiated an Owls fixture this season. You have to go back over 18 months for the last time England was the man in the middle for a Wednesday match. He sent off forward Fernando Forestieri for two bookable offences in their 2-2 draw at Rotherham United.

England, whose only Premier League fixture this term was Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-2 win over Southampton back in January, will be assisted by Darren Blunden and Robert Hyde at Craven Cottage this Saturday. James Oldham has been named as the fourth official.

The Owls, currently 15th in the standings, travel to the capital aiming to record back-to-back away wins for the first time since January.

Along with third-placed Brentford, Garry Monk's men are the joint highest goal-scorers (36) away from home in the second-tier.



https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/football/news/sheffield-wednesday-fulham-match-referee-18608374

[WhiteJC]

'It's not without its risks' – Fulham make enquiry to sign striker: The verdict

This article is part of Football League World's 'The Verdict' series, which provides personal opinions from the FLW writers regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Fulham are among a number of clubs to have made an enquiry for FC Koln striker Simon Terodde, as per SportBild via Sports Witness.

The 32-year-old has managed just four goals in 23 appearances for the Bundesliga side this season, with him unlikely to play a part for the club next season.

With this in mind, what do you think of this potential deal from a Fulham perspective? Would he be a good signing? Do they need him?

The team here at FLW discuss.....

George Harbey

I don't think this would be a good move for Fulham.

Terodde is clearly an experienced forward who has scored a decent amount of goals for Cologne and Stuttgart, but he's now 32 years of age and scored only four goals in 2019/20, which suggests that his best days are now behind him.

Whilst Aleksandar Mitrovic is still at the club, he will undoubtedly be Fulham's main striker up top, with Bobby Reid and Aboubakar Kamara closely following as back-up to the prolific Serbian, and given that Fulham utilise a 4-3-3 system, it's hard to see where Terodde would fit in at Craven Cottage.

Fulham have been guilty on spending large amounts of money on unproven players in the past, especially last season, and I think they will have learnt from their mistakes and can't see them pursuing Terodde.

There are much better options out there, I feel.

Jacob Potter

I'd avoid a move for him.

Terodde hasn't been that impressive with FC Koln this season, and has only scored four goals in 23 appearances, which certainly isn't a great return for a striker in the German top-flight.

He's also 32, which is likely to mean that he's past his best, and it's a move that wouldn't make much sense to me.

Mitrovic is a far better option to have in the starting XI for Fulham, and I don't think Terodde would be an upgrade on the Serbian international.

Terodde would be used on a rotational basis at best, and I definitely feel as though there are better and less riskier options for Fulham in the summer transfer window, especially if they're to win promotion back into the Premier League this season.

Ned Holmes

I don't mind this from a Fulham perspective.

Aleksander Mitrovic is clearly the Cottagers first-choice forward and one of the most dangerous strikers in the Championship, without a doubt.

Beyond the Serbian, I'm not hugely convinced by their options at number nine so signing Terrode would make a lot of sense.

He's been a consistent goalscorer in German football for some time now and would certainly add something to Parker's squad.

It's not without its risks, however, as the 32-year-old is coming off a difficult year in the Bundesliga and is currently carrying a knee injury.

As long as he's being brought in as a back-up and a bit-part player, I like this move. I'd question if he's the right man if they're bringing him as first-choice or as a contingency plan in case of Mitrovic's exit.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/its-not-without-its-risks-fulham-make-enquiry-to-sign-striker-the-verdict/

[WhiteJC]

Sheet pile specialists support Fulham FC's Riverside Stand project

English soccer side Fulham FC is currently undergoing renovation works at its historic Craven Cottage home stadium where it is extending its Riverside Stand to increase its seating capacity, and also create amenities along its stretch of the River Thames, for the enjoyment of fans, residents and visitors.

A steel sheet pile installation specialist and supplier, Sheet Piling (UK) Limited, is playing its part in the project to help the club deliver its vision for the future of the club's home.

Extending the stand and transforming the riverside walkway into a world-class destination, which will boast a pathway that allows leisure users to have an uninterrupted walk between Hammersmith and Putney bridges, required the type of groundwork support in which Sheet Piling UK specializes.  Its team started work at the site in April 2020, following the demolition of Fulham FC's existing Riverside Stand.

The specialist has created three sides of a permanent stand basement structure from steel sheet piles, utilizing the completed and realigned Thames Wall as the fourth.  It will next create and install a temporary steel-welded support frame (part cofferdam), before welding the sheet pile interlocks, so as to provide a watertight basement structure.

Sheet Piling UK's managing director, Andrew Cotton, says: "We are delighted to be playing our part in giving a real community-focused football club like Fulham FC the opportunity to develop its ground in such a way as to secure its future at the site for many years to come.  Many sports grounds are reticent to ask their fan base to adopt new grounds, in new locations and, through this project, Fulham FC has not had to do so.  It has been able to create a valuable sporting and leisure resource at its much beloved sporting home, with steel sheet piling at its base."



https://www.stadia-magazine.com/news/engineering-construction/sheet-pile-specialists-support-fulham-fcs-riverside-stand-project.html

[WhiteJC]

Ralph Hasenhuttl reveals Harrison Reed's on his radar

RALPH Hasenhuttl confirmed that he's been keeping an eye on Saints loanee Harrison Reed.

The 25-year-old has impressed on loan at promotion-chasing Fulham, playing 24 times for the Cottagers.

"We are always focusing on our players who are out on loan and I am very happy when they perform well," the Saints manager said.

"Harry is definitely a player who also showed here that he is normally perfect for our philosophy because he definitely is a very aggressive player against the ball, he can win balls and also with the ball he has a lot of qualities.

"This is important for us to see how he can develop and how good he plays."

Hasenhuttl also confirmed that Jake Vokins' development is progressing how he hoped it would be.

The young left back made his debut against Huddersfield back in January and capped it off with a brilliant goal.

However, he hasn't played since then and has had to remain patient for his chance to dislodge Ryan Bertrand in the starting XI.

"He's performing well in the sessions," Hasenhuttl said of Vokins.

"[He's] waiting for his chance. When the chance comes I'm sure that he will show us that he is competitive.

"He's learned a lot since he was training with us and working with us every day.

"He's a good lad, physically strong and can run and up and down with the ball.

"He's a good player, he had one chance against Huddersfield where he scored and he was grateful for his chance and when the next chance comes he will take it I am sure."



https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/18587181.ralph-hasenhuttl-reveals-harrison-reeds-radar/?ref=rss

[WhiteJC]

Championship clubs to discuss £18m salary cap for next season

Championship clubs will meet next week to determine the next steps for the introduction of an £18m salary cap.

If agreed, the limits on spending on each squad of 25 players could be introduced within weeks.

Eighteen teams will join an already-established Championship financial working group, which currently consists of the other six clubs.

They will discuss a number of proposals which were sent out by the EFL for consultation in June, and are likely to be decided upon ahead of the new season.

A number of different scenarios are up for discussion, notably those clubs relegated from the Premier League - such as Norwich, who will have a wage bill of around £28m next year - possibly receiving dispensation for all players on high wages and be audited at a wage equivalent to £10,000-a-week per player.

However, Norwich and the other two clubs to be relegated from the Premier League are not and will not be part of the discussions.

Spending on promotion bonuses and players aged under 21 is another area where decisions have to be made, and clubs will be guided by the initial proposal document sent to all clubs by the EFL.

The inclusion of agents fees within any new structure is another contentious issue to be discussed.

The changes could be introduced before the start of next season but it is equally possible that clubs may decide to wait until 2021-22 due to the current difficulties surrounding next season.

The meeting is part of a broader discussion on sustainability within EFL clubs.

League One and Two clubs will meet for separate discussions on proposed salary caps of £2.5m and £1.5m respectively.



https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11688/12029983/championship-clubs-to-discuss-18m-salary-cap-for-next-season

[WhiteJC]

Christie Wins Goal of the Month

Cyrus Christie has won the EFL's Sky Bet Championship Goal of the Month for June.

His crisp strike against Queens Park Rangers came out on top of a fan vote in which more than 11,000 people partook, with Cyrus edging out Luton Town's Harry Cornick for top spot.

"I probably won't ever hit another one as clean!" Christie said after receiving his trophy. "I do it quite a lot in training, I'm always working on it, so it was nice that it came off for once!

"It was nice to get on the scoresheet, especially as it was the winner in a West London derby. It would have been nice if there were some fans there, though!

"That's the end the away fans would have been at as well so it would have been good, but it was more important to win the game."



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2020/july/17/cyrus-christie-wins-goal-of-the-month

[WhiteJC]

Tom Lees on Garry Monk, toughening-up and Sheffield Wednesday's trip to Fulham
Sheffield Wednesday make the trip to promotion-chasing Fulham this weekend two games into an unbeaten run and hoping to ease any lingering relegation doubts by claiming a coupon-busting three points.

The Owls, who sit 11 points clear of the drop zone but incredibly still have the unresolved threat of a potential points deduction hanging over them, will arrive at Craven Cottage for their final away clash of the season before returning to Hillsborough to face Neil Warnock's Middlesbrough on Wednesday.

Whilst results have not been consistent enough for the liking of Wednesday boss Garry Monk, his side have had a renewed identity about them since the post-lockdown switch to a 3-5-2 system skipper Tom Lees believes the squad are well suited to.

"He wants to be hard to beat first and foremost and that gives you a platform," Lees said discussing Tuesday evening's 0-0 draw with Huddersfield Town.

"I don't think first half we played that great but sometimes we've played well and been 2-0 down at half-time, so we're still in the game at 0-0.

"Maybe in the past those are the sort of games that we might lose. You see that sort of game so many times in the Championship and the teams that are successful maybe nick that 1-0, but I think the manager is pleased because we were a bit more solid.

"That's how the Championship is. It's scrappy games."

On the challenge of Fulham Lees said: "It'll be a really tough game. They're a quality side and they keep the ball well. They can turn it on when they want to show up.

"We're going to have to be really good. I'm sure they won't want to take their foot off the gas because every season the teams that are in the playoffs, it's all about momentum isn't it?

"They'll be desperate to build that momentum.

"It's our story in the past few seasons that we've shown in periods of five or six games what we can do and then we go on a run where we're totally unrecognisable. It's about getting that consistency."



https://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-wednesday/tom-lees-garry-monk-toughening-and-sheffield-wednesdays-trip-fulham-2915899

[filham]

The hint of a possible wage cap for Championship players is the most sensible thing I have heard for a long time.