Saturday Fulham Stuff - 29/08/20...

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Fossey joins Shrewsbury on loan

Fulham right back Marlon Fossey has signed for Shrewsbury Town on a season-long loan, the club confirmed this evening.

The American defender heads to Shropshire in search of first-team football after enduring an injury-ravaged couple of years that has hindered his development as one of the most eye-catching members of the Fulham academy. The 21 year-old, who has recently been training with Scott Parker's senior squad, joins Sam Ricketts' side, who finished fifteenth in League One last season.



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Fulham vs Arsenal to kick off new Premier League season with TV fixtures for September confirmed

Arsenal's visit to Fulham will open the new Premier League season on Saturday September 12.

The all-London clash at Craven Cottage has been given a 12:30pm kick off slot live on BT Sport with Premier League champions Liverpool beginning their title defence against Leeds at 5:30pm that evening on Sky Sports.

However, eleven out of the 28 Premier League matches confirmed for September will not be available for fans in the UK to view live.

This season 220 matches will be broadcast live, up from 200 in 2019-20.

And while all Premier League matches next month will be played behind closed doors due to the coronavirus pandemic, no arrangement has been put in place similar to the one agreed for the end of last season which meant the final 92 matches were all broadcast live, with 33 of those made available free to air.

Seventeen matches will be shown live on Sky Sports or BT Sport in September.

Tottenham's opening two matches, at home to Everton on September 13 and away to Southampton on September 20, will be broadcast live.

West Brom, who finished runners-up to Leeds in the Championship, will also be on TV in their first game.

They will host Leicester on September 13, with the match kicking off at 2pm.

Newcastle and Burnley are the only sides who will not feature in a televised Premier League match in September.

Premier League fixtures (all times BST)

Saturday 12 September

Fulham v Arsenal: 12:30pm (BT Sport)

Liverpool v Leeds: 5:30pm (Sky Sports)

Sunday 13 September

West Brom v Leicester City: 2pm (Sky Sports)

Spurs v Everton: 4:30pm (Sky Sports)

Monday 14 September

Brighton v Chelsea: 8pm (Sky Sports)

Saturday 19 September

Everton v West Brom: 12:30pm (BT Sport)

Man Utd v Crystal Palace: 5:30pm (Sky Sports)

Sunday 20 September

Southampton v Spurs: 12pm (BT Sport)

Arsenal v West Ham: 2pm (Sky Sports)

Chelsea v Liverpool: 4:30pm (Sky Sports)

Monday 21 September

Wolves v Man City: 8pm (Sky Sports)

Saturday 26 September

Brighton v Man Utd: 12:30pm (BT Sport)

West Brom v Chelsea: 5:30pm (Sky Sports)

Sunday 27 September

Sheff Utd v Leeds Utd: 12pm (BT Sport)

Fulham v Aston Villa: 2pm (Sky Sports)

Man City v Leicester City: 4:30pm (Sky Sports)

Monday 28 September

Liverpool v Arsenal: 8pm (Sky Sports)

Additional reporting from Press Association



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league-tv-fixtures-confirmed-sky-sports-bt-sport-a4535761.html

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Marlon Fossey: Shrewsbury Town sign defender on season-long loan from Fulham

Marlon Fossey is yet to make a senior appearance for Fulham

Shrewsbury Town have signed defender Marlon Fossey on a season-long loan deal from Premier League side Fulham.

The 21-year-old United States Under-20 international is yet to make a senior appearance for Fulham, having had a long spell sidelined due to injury.

"He's someone who I've been chasing for 18 months, so I'm delighted to get him," boss Sam Ricketts said.

"He's really athletic, he can get up and down the line really well. He's got a gymnastics background as well."



https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53953940

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 Premier League clubs to reconsider vote on use of five substitutes
Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal reportedly want to use up to five replacements

Premier League clubs are reconsidering their decision not to use five substitutes next season.

The Sun newspaper has claimed Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal all want to use up to five substitutes in the upcoming season, despite an August 6 vote between Premier League clubs deciding to stick with a maximum of three replacements per match.

The issue is back on the agenda at a meeting next week, with clubs expected to vote again at a shareholders meeting on September 3.

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) gave leagues the choice to extend the five subs rule for another season, with the Scottish Premier League opting to keep it.

But the Premier League was against the proposal as clubs - including newly-promoted West Brom, Leeds and Fulham - voted 13-7 last month to stick with the normal numbers.

Many believed the five substitutes rule was unfair as it only benefited wealthier clubs with bigger squads.



https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12058742/premier-league-clubs-to-reconsider-vote-on-use-of-five-substitutes

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Fulham signing this 26-goal Championship hotshot would serve them well in the PL this season

Why Fulham must secure the transfer of Ollie Watkins

According to Sky Sports, Premier League returnees Fulham have entered the race to sign Ollie Watkins from EFL Championship club Brentford this summer.

The 24-year-old is a target for a host of top-flight clubs including Aston Villa, Crystal Palace and West Bromwich Albion. And now, Fulham, too, have thrown their hat in the ring to land the striker this summer. (h/t Sky Sports)

Profile
Born in Torbay, Watkins started out at the academy of Exeter City and made his senior debut in 2013, in an EFL Trophy clash. After a short loan stint at Weston Super Mare in 2015, he became a regular at Exeter and went on to rack up 78 appearances, in which he scored 26 goals and created 17 more. (h/t Transfermarkt)

In 2017, Watkins made the switch to Brentford and has grown into a key player for the Bees over the years. Till date, the 24-year-old has found the back of the net on 49 occasions in 143 appearances for the club, while also registering 17 assists. (h/t Transfermarkt)

Watkins enjoyed a brilliant 2019/20 campaign, which has seen him emerge as a target for a host of clubs, including Fulham. (h/t Sky Sports)

Fulham need to beef up their attack
Fulham are back in the Premier League, after beating Brentford in the EFL Championship playoff finals. And, having returned to the top-flight, manager Scott Parker must bolster his squad if his team are to perform well in the coming seasons.

The centre-forward slot is one where Fulham lack quality depth at the moment. Last season, they rode on the brilliant form of Aleksandar Mitrovic, who banged in 26 goals in the Championship. However, the next best scorer was midfielder Tom Cairney, with eight strikes to his name. (h/t Transfermarkt)

While Bobby Reid and Aboubakar Kamara can play as centre-forwards, neither are naturals in the position. Thus, adding another proper striker who can add more firepower to their attack should be a priority for the Cottagers.

Having said that, Watkins would be an excellent choice to lead their attack. The 24-year-old is coming on the back of an exceptional season in which he plundered 26 goals in 50 matches across all competitions, while setting up three more. (h/t Transfermarkt)

Signing him would bolster the Fulham attack a great deal, while also ensuring they have quality depth behind first-choice striker Mitrovic. And, if he is able to carry forward the same form from last season, he would prove to be a masterstroke addition.

Verdict
Fulham lack options in the centre-forward slot beyond Aleksandar Mitrovic and need to rectify that heading into the 2020/21 season. Signing Watkins, to that end, would prove to be a coup. The 24-year-old is coming on the back of his best season and would certainly add more goals to the side.



https://www.mediareferee.com/2020/08/28/why-fulham-must-secure-the-transfer-of-the-prolific-ollie-watkins/

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Why Fulham's £2m signing would offer Parker a good selection headache next season

Why Antonee Robinson is a good signing for Fulham

According to Sky Sports, Fulham signed Wigan Athletic left-back Antonee Robinson for a fee in the region of £2million last week.

The US international started his career with Everton before having loan spells with Bolton Wanderers and Wigan, eventually joining the Latics last summer.

Having impressed at Wigan while on loan during his first season with them, Robinson was immediately made the side's first-choice left-back last season. Robinson was a regular in the side, making 38 league appearances before a groin injury disrupted the second half of his Championship season.

He kept 11 clean sheets, scored a goal, and provided one assist in the process, giving a fair glimpse of his potential.

Robinson can offer Fulham depth at left-back
Fulham, on the other hand, secured Premier League promotion last season after defeating Brentford in the Championship play-off final. The Cottagers led by manager Scott Parker are returning to the top-flight after a gap of one year following their relegation in the 2018-19 season.

The report claims that Fulham are in the process of building a squad to sustain in the Premier League for a longer duration, unlike last time.

Robinson's arrival will offer Parker more depth at left-back this season, with the side currently having just Joe Bryan in that role. The 26-year-old was manager Parker's first-choice last season, impressing with three goals and seven assists from 46 Championship matches.

However, apart from Bryan, Fulham do not have any other player in their ranks who can feature as a left-back, meaning Robinson's inclusion solves that problem.

Moreover, having impressed for Wigan last season, he could give Bryan a good run for his money. This, in turn, will offer manager Parker a good selection headache. Thus, the Cottagers have made a wise choice by landing a rising young left-back such as Robinson.

Verdict
It is clear that Fulham lacked enough left-backs in their side and Robinson's addition will only add more strength to their squad. The youngster has already proven himself at such a short duration while playing for Wigan. Also, he is just 23 and will be raring to prove a point for a newly-promoted side such as Fulham.



https://www.mediareferee.com/2020/08/29/why-fulhams-2m-signing-would-offer-parker-a-good-selection-headache-next-season/

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Fulham opener selected by BT Sport

Fulham's first fixture back in the Premier League has been brought forward after BT Sport selected their opening day clash with Arsenal for television coverage.

The Whites will now kick off against the Gunners at 12.30pm on Saturday 12 September and will be screened live on BT Sport 1.

Fulham's second home game of the campaign against Aston Villa has been chosen for live coverage by Sky Sports. This fixture will now take place on Sunday 27 September, kicking off at 2pm.



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Aston Villa make improved £12m offer for Nottingham Forest right-back Matty Cash as they bid to fight off competition from Fulham Sheffield United and Southampton

    Villa have made an improved £12m bid for Nottingham Forest defender Cash
    Premier League side believe they can reach a compromise as talks continue
    The 23-year old has interest from Fulham, Sheffield United and Southampton

Aston Villa have made an improved £12million bid for Nottingham Forest right back Matty Cash.

Forest want around £15m for the 23-year old who has interest from Fulham, Sheffield United and Southampton.

However, Villa, who had a £10m offer rejected, believe they can reach a compromise as talks continue.


Aston Villa have made an improved £12m bid for Nottingham Forest right back Matty Cash

Several Premier League clubs were in for the promising right-back in January but none could reach a deal with the Championship side.

Cash stayed and helped Forest in their bid to seal play-off football, which they agonisingly missed out on on the final day of the season on goal difference.

Cash has scored 16 goals for the club, including three this season, in 141 appearances since breaking into the senior side from the club's academy.



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8675851/Aston-Villa-make-improved-12m-offer-Nottingham-Forest-right-Matty-Cash.html