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Saturday Fulham Stuff - 12/09/20...

Started by WhiteJC, September 11, 2020, 03:10:59 PM

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WhiteJC

Aston Villa face Premier League competition for EFL-bound ace

AFC Bournemouth striker Josh King has a series of Premier League admirers, with Fulham reportedly entering the race to sign him alongside Aston Villa.

King is still on the books at Bournemouth on the back of their relegation into the Championship, but it appears that his departure will eventually materialise given the intensifying interest.

According to Pete O'Rourke on Twitter, Aston Villa now have competition in the race to sign King in the form of newly-promoted side, Fulham.

Scott Parker is looking to bolster his attacking options ahead of Fulham's second crack at the Premier League in three seasons, with a need to ease the pressure that sits on the shoulders of Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Mitrovic struck 26 goals for Fulham last season in the Championship, but King has been proving himself in the Premier League with Bournemouth for a number of seasons.

The 28-year-old's best Premier League campaign was 2016/17 when he scored 16 goals and registered two assists in 36 games, whilst last year there were six goals and four assists for the Cherries, despite their relegation into the Championship.

A former Man United youngster, King had spells with the likes of Preston, Hull and Blackburn before settling in Bournemouth.

The Verdict 

King is a top forward and, in truth, he's too good to be in the Championship. Bournemouth will realise that, but his exit has to be the best deal for the club.

The 28-year-old would be a sound addition for Villa on the back of Ollie Watkins' arrival, whilst he's the type of striker that would really complement Mitrovic at Fulham.

This pair should be hot on the heels of the Norwegian, but others in the Premier League will be too.

King will be hot property as the transfer window reaches its final month.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/aston-villa-face-premier-league-competition-for-efl-bound-ace/

WhiteJC

Report: Fulham want Bournemouth striker and Aston Villa target Josh King

According to The Daily Telegraph, Fulham want Bournemouth striker Josh King this summer as manager Scott Parker continues to bolster his squad for life back in the Premier League.

The Norway international is expected to leave the Vitality Stadium in the coming weeks with only nine months left on his current deal, and the Cottagers are keen to offer him a chance to continue playing top-flight football.

Fulham aren't the only ones interested in King, with Aston Villa also planning a move.

Manager Dean Smith wants another striker after landing Ollie Watkins, and his side have looked at a £16million deal but it could take more for Bournemouth to cash in.

Fulham have already brought in Antonee Robinson, Mario Lemina, Harrison Reed, Alphonse Areola and Kenny Tete so far this summer, and Ola Aina is expected to join from Torino.

They could do with another striker, and King will be a fine addition.

King was linked with a return to Manchester United in January as boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer needed a cover for the injured Marcus Rashford, but Bournemouth knocked back their offer.

The 28-year-old has scored 48 Premier League for the Cherries since joining in 2015, hitting double digits in 2018-19 and 2016-17, and Fulham need such an experienced striker in their attack.



https://sportslens.com/report-fulham-want-bournemouth-striker-and-aston-villa-target-josh-king/312993/

WhiteJC

Arsenal fans think Mikel Arteta has dropped a big hint on his starting line-up for Fulham

Arsenal take on Fulham in the first game of the 2020/21 Premier League season and some supporters think they have worked out Mikel Arteta will set out his team

Arsenal kick-start their Premier League season with the short trip across London to face Fulham on Saturday.

The Gunners will be hoping to make a winning start to their campaign, with Mikel Arteta looking to build upon the momentum of winning the FA Cup at the end of last season, and then the Community Shield against Liverpool several weeks ago.

Arteta's side have been in pre-season mode for several weeks with warm-up games against MK Dons and Aston Villa to help the Gunners regain match sharpness.

The Villa match at the Emirates ended in a 3-2 defeat, but saw Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang net a brace to carry on where he left off against Jurgen Klopp's side at Wembley.

Summer signings  Willian  and  Dani Ceballos  also made appearances, with Ceballos playing less than 24 hours after signing another season-long loan with the club. Nicolas Pepe was also in action, after missing the Community Shield clash entirely.

With the match against Fulham fast approaching, some Arsenal supporters took to social media to speculate on Arteta's line-up for the game at Craven Cottage - based on the clips of the Villa friendly.

Fans posted a video of Aubameyang's first goal on Reddit, but it was Arsenal's formation during the game which caught the attention of many.

They believe Arteta is ready to switch to a 4-2-3-1, with Aubameyang playing off the left as he has done in recent months, with Willian occupying the number 10 role and Pepe on the right.

One supporter wrote: "From some serious examination, it looks to me like that is a front 4 of Auba, Laca, Pepe with Willian central.

"Would have to mean 4 at the back is on the cards, and might explain why everything was kept under wraps."

Another posted: "So excited with a front 4 of Auba, Laca, Pepe and Willian as 10.

"KNEW it would happen and can't wait to see it in action."

A third wrote: "Having Willian as a CAM [central attacking midfielder] will be big.

"I think he created the second most chances in the league, this will mean we can score a lot more goals and beat some of the weaker 11 at the back teams."



https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/news/arsenal-fulham-line-up-willian-18915801


WhiteJC

Report: Inter Milan interested in signing Fulham midfielder Jean Michael Seri

Fulham could lose midfielder, Jean Michael Seri, as Inter Milan prepare to make an offer to bring the Ivory Coast international to Italy.

That is, according to Sky Sports, who claim that Inter are eyeing Seri as a potential second-choice to number one target N'golo Kante.

The Cottagers are willing to sell Seri this summer as the midfielder has dropped down the pecking order Scott Parker. In addition, Parker has also brought in new signings such as Harrison Reed and Mario Lemina.

Seri cost Fulham big money a few seasons ago and has, since then, failed to make his mark on the team. He does, however, have 30 caps for his country and at 29, should be itching to get one last big move in his career.

Inter manager Antonio Conte is looking to strengthen this summer and clearly fancies Seri as the man to bolster his midfield.

Fulham need to sell and Seri make sense, he should fetch a decent fee – TBR View

The Cottagers can't just keep bringing players in and then not sell anyone to help fund it so it makes sense to see the likes of Seri being linked with moves away from the club.

For one reason or another, it's just not worked out for Seri, so a move away would be the best option for the player and club.

Parker clearly doesn't fancy him and the signings of Reed and Lemina show that. If Inter do make their move, then Seri would be silly to turn down such an opportunity.



https://tbrfootball.com/report-inter-milan-interested-in-signing-fulham-midfielder-jean-michael-seri/

WhiteJC

Fulham signing Alphonse Areola does not mark the end for Marek Rodak, insists Scott Parker

Demoted? Marek Rodak ( Getty Images )

Scott Parker insists the signing of goalkeeper Alphonse Areola does not mark the end for Marek Rodak at Fulham.

Rodak was thrown into Parker's side in October last season and did not look back as

he kept 15 clean sheets and established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the division.

The arrival of Areola from Paris Saint-Germain, however, raises a question mark over his future but Parker insists the No1 spot is up for grabs.

"Areola coming brings competition which is needed in one of the best leagues in the world," said Parker. "What's vital for us to be successful this year is competition.

"They'll push each other. We've got two very good keepers and that's exactly what I need."

Fulham last night confirmed their fifth signing ahead of the new season by bringing in Kenny Tete joining from Lyon and they will not stop there, with Ola Aina set to join on loan from Torino.



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/fulham-news-areola-rodak-parker-transfer-a4545206.html

WhiteJC

In Profile: Alphonse Areola

Cam Ramsey looks at our newest recruit between the sticks.


I'll try my hardest to refrain from using cheap puns centred squarely around breasts and nipples, but in the wake of Alphonse Areola's arrival from Paris Saint-Germain on a season-long loan, we are clasped in very safe hands indeed.

Recognised as PSG's third-choice stopper behind Keylor Navas and Marcin Bulka, the need for Areola to depart the Parc des Princes, albeit temporarily, couldn't have been greater. The 27-year-old's esteemed career, so far, has harboured reward, acclaim and now he's at a tantalising crossroads, facing an opportunity to flex his credentials with London's Originals in the Premier League.

His beginnings
Nurtured in the Parisian's youth ranks, Areola progressed through the age groups rapidly and in 2010, the senior set-up under Antoine Kombouare's command awaited him. RC Lens were the first club to come knocking for his youthful services in 2013 then, a year later, SC Bastia took custody of the fledgling stopper. In 40 appearances for I Turchini, Areola – 21-years-old at the time – recorded 13 clean sheets, a return that promised competence as well as improvement.

Areola's physical presence within his 18-yard box, alongside his deceptive agility, caught they eyes of Villarreal CF in the summer of 2016 and in the coming campaign at the Yellow Submarine, he only conceded 32 goals in 37 outings, tallying 17 shut outs in the process. That was a defining season for the Frenchman, a campaign that truly highlighted his game-saving qualities as Villarreal finished fifth in La Liga.

A Spanish sojourn
Returning to France, Areola remained part of PSG's plans until Real Madrid drafted him into their squad for the 2019/20 season and, whilst an interim stint with Los Blancos is a ridiculously attractive prospect, he only took to the turf nine times. Passed to and from Europe's elite, Areola was in need of an impromptu revival so for the coming season, low and behold, he now resides by the river with a resurgent club that mirrors his immediate ambitions.

International success
On the international stage, Areola is a trusted member of Didier Dechamps' France fold and though he's Hugo Lloris' understudy, he's still a revered component withing Les Bleus' 2018 World Cup-winning contingent. Yes, he may not have played during France's successful trip to Russia and he may only have three caps, but Fulham have a stopper with a medal that tops every attainable accolade in the professional game.

What this means, essentially, is Areola's an accomplished specialist with planet-toppling prestige. With Madrid, he claimed the Spanish title, as well as the Spanish Super Cup. With PSG, unsurprisingly, of course, he's won three Ligue 1 shields and two French Cup trophies, not to mention the four French Super Cups, but what the heck. He's a player that's familiar with accomplishment, he's tried and tested at the pinnacle of club football but, refreshingly, he evidently possesses a humble, modest ethic, a perfect match for Fulham's honest ideology.

Jostling for position
Why would he openly swap Champions League contention for Premier League obscurity? Simple, Areola wants to give his all for Scott Parker's camp and contribute wherever possible but make no mistake, he will aim for supremacy between the sticks. This is excellent for Marek Rodak's development, by the way, and it's an ideal platform for Areola to showcase his capabilities to the wider masses, too.

Our gifted Slovakian is still my first-choice, although Areola will push him to obtain a higher level. Our newcomer will introduce a standard that will test his teammate's capabilities and if Rodak isn't sharp on the training field, if he isn't equipped to equal his colleague's work-rate, Areola will prove to be a tremendous mentor and motivator for the 23-year-old.

Being in the presence of a 'keeper that's worked with the very best himself, that's got to excite Rodak greatly. If Rodak is as strong mentally as he is between the sticks, he'll relish the opportunity to potentially upstage Areola, he'll overcome obstacles and if he's fishing for pointers, there's really not many better to learn from.

A prestigious recruit
Sure, Areola isn't Gianluigi Buffon, he is not Iker Casillas or Manuel Neuer, but he's a stopper that's rubbed shoulders with men of the same venerated calibre and he's had to wait patiently for his chances to guard the target for some of the continent's most respected superpowers. That experience, knowing you have to bring your best, 100% of the time, will serve the Whites very well indeed.

If countless media reports are to be believed, we beat Chelsea and Arsenal to his signature, Parker pull relinquishes Frank Lampard's magnetic energy and what's more glorious is the realisation that the best 'keepers in SW6 represent the super shaggin' Whites. Kepa Arrizabalaga, with his poppadom wrists, and Willy Caballero cower in Rodak and Areola's domineering shadows and if that's a reason to be smug, despite the Blues ridiculously scary offensive departments, I'll take it.

Assured, vocal, resistant, 6ft 5, broad shouldered, Areola will raise the bar in the coming months and, though he'll inevitably pick the ball out of his own net on multiple occasions, he'll thwart the cream of English footballing royalty with qualified reflexes and an appreciation of angles and margins when it matters most. I said we didn't need another 'keeper, but this one's welcome. As Marcus Bettinelli dines on Parmos in Middlesbrough, we gorge ourselves on the finest French Fancy the loan market had to offer.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2020-09-11-in-profile-alphonse-areola/


WhiteJC

Preview: Fulham vs Arsenal

Newly-promoted Fulham host Arsenal in the first match of the 2020/21 Premier League season on Saturday lunchtime.
Fulham team news

Fulham boss Scott Parker has no injury concerns ahead of his side's top-flight comeback.

He needs to decide whether France international goalkeeper Alphonse Areola, signed on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, should got the nod over 23-year-old Slovakian Marek Rodak, who was first-choice in the Championship last season.

Mario Lemina, signed on loan from Southampton, is also in contention to make his debut.

The Gabon international midfielder, aged 27, has 46 Premier League appearances to his name for the Saints, but spent last season on loan at Galatasaray.
Arsenal team news

Arsenal could hand a debut to £22m centre-back Gabriel Magalhães, with fellow Brazilian defender David Luiz ruled out for six weeks due to the neck injury he sustained in the Community Shield win over Liverpool.

Another young defender, William Saliba, is also in contention for his debut.

Veteran winger Willian, signed on a free transfer from Chelsea, could make his first appearance for the Gunners.

Long-term injury absentees Pablo Mari (ankle) and Gabriel Martinelli (knee) remained sidelined.



https://www.offthepost.info/2020/09/11/preview-fulham-vs-arsenal/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+offthepost%2FTLAa+%28Off+The+Post%29

WhiteJC

Mr Khan's Programme Notes


An exclusive look at Shahid Khan's notes which will appear in Saturday's matchday programme.

It is my distinct privilege to welcome you back for another season of football at Craven Cottage, and especially so with Fulham once again competing in the English Premier League.  We all wish our return were under normal circumstances, and perhaps that day will come yet in the months ahead.  For now, however, we will all watch today's match vs. Arsenal from elsewhere.  And while we may be separate and distant, we will be one, as we always are at Fulham Football Club.

That's the great thing about sports, and particularly football.  There's nothing like being at a match, but fans are still very much able to have a presence and make an impact without literally being in attendance.  Despite the appropriate restrictions that kept all of us at home once we restarted in June, there is no doubt our squad was moved by our supporters as we marched toward a play-off position and ultimately the victory at Wembley Stadium vs. Brentford to earn promotion.  The organic power and passion of our supporters found a higher gear with each week that passed, whether it was by word of mouth, social media or what we heard from you by phone or email.  And all of it was amplified worldwide by your club's excellent Fulforce From Home campaign that continues today and throughout the season ahead, stronger than ever.

And so it will be very much the same to start the 2020-2021 season in the Premier League.  It's been months since I've been back in London, and I know you'd also prefer to spend today's opener at Craven Cottage, one of the game's premier destinations for players and supporters of all teams.  But until that occasion, wherever we may be today and beyond, let's continue to gather virtually – and stand together – in backing Fulham Football Club to success in the greatest football league in the world.

It's an honour to return to Premier League action with a London derby against Arsenal and I congratulate the club for its FA Cup and Community Shield victories, both impressively earned and coming practically back to back in just the past several weeks.  That means Arsenal is arriving at Craven Cottage in midseason form – even though the season is just beginning!  We clearly drew a formidable opponent for a globally televised lunchtime match that will raise the curtain on what will be a fast-paced Premier League schedule for 2020-2021.

But, I also would like to think Arsenal paused when they saw they'd open away at Fulham, for we also enter the 2020-2021 season with momentum, confidence and maybe a bit of magic following our charge to immediate promotion after only one year away from the Premier League.

We will field a squad today that has already been enhanced since we last saw it at Wembley Stadium just more than five weeks ago, thanks to the permanent addition of Harrison Reed, our signings of Antonee Robinson and Kenny Tete, and the loan arrivals of Mario Lemina and Alphonse Areola.  I am thrilled to welcome all five men to the Fulham Football Club family, and in particular recognise Harrison for winning us over during his successful loan spell last season and inspiring us to make his stay here in the SW6 a permanent one, just as occurred earlier in the year with fellow loanees Ivan Cavaleiro, Anthony Knockaert and Bobby De Cordova-Reid – all permanent additions to your squad.

As I noted last month, our plan is to complement, and not disrupt, the side that fought for and gained promotion to the Premier League.  The transfer window remains open for several more weeks and, as I submit these notes, I assure you that we will continue to consider options through the end of the month that may fit into that philosophy.  But no matter how our squad looks as we enter October, we will be in excellent position due to what I think is our most important transaction of the offseason – a new three-year contract for your Head Coach, Scott Parker.

I said last week upon the announcement of Scott's new deal that our belief in Scott has roots dating back to 2013, when we brought him to Fulham as a player just prior to the start of my first season as your Chairman.  At the time, I was admittedly learning a bit about our squad.  But, I was familiar with Scott Parker and was confident he would provide value during training, as a mentor to younger players and certainly from his midfield position on match days.  I was extremely happy that we were able to land him.

As it turned out, Scott made his Fulham debut during the second weekend of the Premier League season in what was our home opener and my first match at the Cottage as Chairman.  It was a lunchtime game against Arsenal, so here we are again – though we would prefer a different outcome this afternoon.  But that day and throughout the rest of his tenure playing for Fulham, Scott provided everything we envisioned.  Just as important, his respect and love for your club was clear.

All of that and more makes it easy to cheer for Scott Parker, and why we trusted him as our Caretaker Head Coach at the end of 2018-2019 as well as with the duty of returning us to the Premier League last season – which, he did.  Scott has given us stability and direction, and that adds up to promise and hope for the Premier League campaign in front of us and beyond.  Please welcome me in congratulating Scott and his family for a three-year contract as our Head Coach that is fully deserved!

I'd also like to thank the following players who have moved on from Fulham, whether loaned out for this campaign, or indeed returned to the teams that loaned them to us last season: Jordan Archer, Luca De La Torre, Matt O'Riley, Terence Kongolo, Steven Sessegnon, Alfie Mawson, Marcus Bettinelli, and especially Harry Arter, who had a number of big moments and goals that were crucial to our promotion.  All were contributors to what we achieved, and their efforts are appreciated.

On behalf of everyone at Fulham, we do hope to see you in person at Craven Cottage at some point soon.  In consultation with the Premier League and government officials, your club is working on plans for a phased return of fans to attend home matches in limited numbers, hopefully by our home fixtures in late October.  This is a complex process that we want to make as accommodating and fair to all Fulham supporters, but the only way it will happen at Craven Cottage – or anywhere – is if we continue to respect social distancing and all health and safety measures in every aspect of our lives.  Please, continue to do your part, and encourage others to do the same.

And, while circumstances surrounding COVID-19 have unquestionably challenged all of us, we do continue to forge ahead on the construction of the Riverside Stand.  Piling works have been completed and the new walkway along the River Thames, between the Putney and Hammersmith stands, is finished but will not open for some time as construction continues.  If you're in the neighbourhood, you will see that steel works are now underway.  And inside the grounds, we now have a temporary gantry structure to make Craven Cottage compliant with Premier League media requirements, all accomplished in the short time since our promotion was made official.  Credit goes to everyone involved with our operations and facilities personnel, many of whom have essentially relocated from Motspur Park to Craven Cottage in recent weeks to be ready for today's early kick-off.  Thank you!

Finally, two pieces of club business.  First, I hope you have had the opportunity to check out the new Fulham club website that debuted last week.  If you're like me, the term "redesigned website" sends off alarms, but you won't find that the case once you've visited the new fulhamfc.com.  This is more outstanding work from our communications and marketing team, which also produces our superb matchday programme that routinely wins industry awards for content, design and more.  Nice work, everyone!

And second, I ask you to join me in welcoming our new main sponsor, BetVictor, which will feature across our First Team and Women's Team shirts and throughout our various club platforms for the next two seasons.  BetVictor is an online sports and casino gaming company that has thrived for decades in one of the most competitive industries anywhere on the planet.  We're grateful for its support as Fulham and BetVictor each embark on a Premier League campaign that will connect us with upwards of three billion people globally.  I happen to love the look of the BetVictor logo on our new kits revealed earlier this week, and hope you feel the same.

To our staff, coaches, players, sponsors and supporters, thank you for keeping Fulham in your hearts throughout what has been a turbulent year for all of us.  I wish you all the best of health and happiness as we return to top-flight football this afternoon.  And, I pledge to you that Fulham Football Club will do everything possible in the season ahead to inspire, uplift and unite us all – wherever we may be.

Come on, Fulham!



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2020/september/Mr-Khan-s-Programme-Notes/

WhiteJC

Team news: David Luiz, Sokratis and Smith Rowe

Here is the latest team news update from our medical team ahead of Saturday's match at Fulham.

There were no issues from players returning from international matches.

David Luiz
Neck spasm. Currently being assessed and undergoing treatment with good response. Will miss Saturday's match at Fulham.

Emile Smith Rowe
Sustained an injury to his right shoulder in training. Protective sling will be removed by the end of next week and aiming to integrate back into training soon afterwards.

Sokratis
Right calf. Sustained mild strain to right calf in training. Will miss Saturday's match at Fulham. Aiming to integrate back into full training within the next week.

Calum Chambers
Left knee. Ruptured anterior cruciate ligament of his left knee during Chelsea (h) on December 29.

Pablo Mari
Left ankle. Sustained significant sprain to ankle ligaments during Manchester City (a) on June 17.

Gabriel Martinelli
Left knee. Sustained injury during training on June 21.

Shkodran Mustafi
Right hamstring sustained during FA Cup semi-final on July 18.

As part of Premier League protocol, all members of our first team squad and support staff continue to be regularly tested for COVID-19.



https://www.arsenal.com/news/team-news-david-luiz-sokratis-and-smith-rowe


WhiteJC

Will the damage caused by football behind closed doors ever truly be repaired?

The cost of a bleak winter amid the coronavirus outbreak isn't just economic – and it's not clear that every club will make it out of the other side

The biggest crowd in the 2019/20 English season watched Phil Foden win man of the match and Sergio Aguero score. Perhaps their counterparts for the 2020/21 campaign saw Tom Knowles score his second goal for Cambridge and Lewis Simper make his senior debut.

There were 862 at the Abbey Stadium on Tuesday to see Cambridge beat Fulham Under-21s in the EFL Trophy. Plans to use Saturday's match against Carlisle as a pilot event to get fans back had to be abandoned on Thursday. So the midweek gate stands alone, even if it falls far short of the 82,145 who were at March's Carabao Cup final, or the palindromic 73,737 - the most at a club ground - who witnessed Manchester United's draw with Liverpool. Or even the 2,500 Brighton accommodated for a friendly a few weeks ago.

Cambridge, used to topping university league tables, may instead find themselves with the largest crowd for a men's competitive game, by a process of default. They may remain the only club to play in front of their public this season. The governmental predictions of six months of semi-lockdown, or worse, set the scene for England's longest, bleakest winter. Certainly, it looks like being English football's worst. Clubs seem set to be denied the oxygen of support and the resources to keep going.

It feels a miracle that only Wigan Atletic have gone into administration so far – and even then, due to ridiculously atrocious ownership, rather than playing the last nine games of their campaign in empty stadia – but how, realistically, do League One and League Two clubs, no matter how well run they are, continue when they are staring into the abyss of a future without any matchday revenue?

If the Premier League has far greater alternative income, courtesy of broadcast and commercial funds, it is nevertheless hugely worrying that an entire season behind closed doors will cost the division £547 million, according to its chief executive Richard Masters. Arsenal, who announced 55 redundancies, could merely be the trendsetters.

Many find their best-laid plans rendered irrelevant by a combination of coronavirus and the U-turns, mixed messaging and panicking of the hideously incompetent British government. The idea that some crowds could come back on 1 October now seems another broken promise. Even before then, Daniel Levy was reportedly looking at ways to get Tottenham's supposedly lucrative executive boxes at least semi-full and Manchester United apparently trying to get 12,000 fans to attend their game against Crystal Palace but every club, at every level, will have been examining ideas of how to accommodate at least some supporters.

It is not merely about rewarding loyalty. They have a financial duty to do so. Instead, the season tickets that were sold, predicated on the assumption grounds could be semi-full for at least some games, may have to be refunded in full.

There are plenty of easy gags about it being easy to observe social distancing at various clubs, whose homes are rarely packed, but there is a valid argument that it could be feasible and safer than many other aspects of life. Now rules about gatherings of over six people being illegal suggest empty stadia will reflect an ever emptier existence.

And, at some point, there needs to be a discussion if the damage of a lost winter can ever be repaired, if the price is too great or if there is an alternative way. There is an economic cost of destroying businesses and industries and a societal cost of destroying institutions, which football clubs are, and which is getting overlooked.

If the opening week of a league season should be a time of optimism, now it is one of pessimism.



https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/will-the-damage-caused-by-football-behind-closed-doors-ever-truly-be-repaired

WhiteJC

Arsenal to be without seven first-team stars for Premier League opener against Fulham
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta still has a strong squad to choose from.

David Luiz will miss Arsenal's opening game of the season against Fulham on Saturday after failing to recover from a neck spasm.

Luiz has become a trusted defender for manager Mikel Arteta despite several high profile errors last season.

The Brazilian was expected to start the season at centre-back to allow new arrivals William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes time to adjust to the Premier League.

But Saliba and Gabriel could be pressed into action this weekend at Craven Cottage in the absence of Luiz.

Arteta is also without four other defenders with Sokratis, Calum Chambers, Pablo Mari and Shkodran Mustafi all nursing injuries.

Youngster Emile Smith Rowe, who was expected to play a role this season in the first team, injured his shoulder in training this week.

But Arsenal have confirmed he could return to training next week when he has a protective sling removed.

Gabriel Martinelli remains a long-term absentee after undergoing an arthroscopic procedure to repair a lesion in the cartilage of his left knee.

The Brazilian is aiming to return to full training by the end of the year.

Meanwhile, Arsenal have announced Arteta's job title at the club has been changed from head coach to first-team manager.

In recognition of the all-emcompassing work done by Arteta since his arrival in December, the Spaniard has been rewarded by Arsenal with the alteration.

Chief executive Vinai Venkatesham told Arsenal.com: "Mikel's been here since the end of December and the last nine months have probably been the most challenging nine months in Arsenal's history - and we've been around for 134 years. Despite all of those challenges, Mikel has been driving this football club forward.

"He has lifted the spirits and lifted the energy here at London Colney and with Arsenal fans all across the world. He is doing an absolutely phenomenal job.

"The other thing that's clear is that right from the day he walked through the door, he was doing much more than being our head coach. So we're going to be changing his job title going forward. He'll move from head coach to be the first-team manager. That's recognition of what he's been doing from the day he walked in the door, but also where we see his capabilities.

"He is doing a great job of coaching the first team and that's his primary responsibility, but there is so much more that he can bring and that's why we're making this change, in recognition of his capabilities and also the job that he's doing already.



https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1334312/Arsenal-team-news-David-Luiz-Premier-League-Fulham-Arteta

WhiteJC

Parker confident Fulham can 'prove people wrong' ahead of Arsenal clash

Scott Parker believes it's one thing to be a good player – like himself and Arsenal's Mikel Arteta – it's quite another to be a good manager.

Former Fulham boss Jean Tigana used to lie awake at nights wondering how to coach his squad.

The French international star said it gave him headaches – and he was a European Championship winner.

Parker endorses the view.

He will glance at the man adjacent to him in the Craven Cottage technical area tomorrow, more than aware they followed a similar career path to a top job.

But then so have other top players who then failed to cut it when it came to the manager's job.

Parker insists it's one thing being able to perform at the top level – it's quite another to pass it on to players.

"Mikel has brought on Arsenal in a short space of time," Parker said.

"I think they can be a big force, and we as players had many battles when I was at West Ham and Tottenham.

"But this job is full-on. You need to step into it fully committed, and that's a big part of being successful.

"When you've played in the big arenas, and know it for what it is as a player, all of a sudden you step out of it and have to teach others. It's very different.

"You can step on a pitch and demonstrate, and I can understand what I need in my head, but there's an art to teaching others your ideas."

A win for Fulham, and the club are up and running.

A defeat, and hopefully nothing like the 5-1 mauling at the Cottage in October 2018, is not a signal for doom and gloom, Parker insists.

"We're going to have some struggles," he said.

"But I firmly believe we can challenge and prove people wrong.

"We're going to prepare to hurt them (Arsenal), and we understand how we can limit them.

"The first game gives you a platform, but you have to makes sure the downs, and there will be downs, don't affect you.

"When you get a jab on the nose, you come back punching".



https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/parker-confident-fulham-can-prove-people-wrong-ahead-of-arsenal-clash


WhiteJC

Scott Parker outlines why Fulham will avoid the same mistakes in Premier League return

Manager says players must embrace challenge of being relegation favourites on eve of opener against Arsenal


Joe Bryan celebrates after giving Fulham the lead in the play-off final against Brentford (Image: Getty Images)

This time Fulham believe, as they must, that it will be different. Survival is the realistic limit of their ambitions and already the odds appear stacked against them.

They have had less time to prepare as a result of the play-offs, the squad requires strengthening in certain areas and the club are committed to not repeating the mistakes of two years ago when they spent more than £100million on square pegs unable to fit in round holes.

On the plus side Scott Parker, who became manager when their fate two seasons ago was pretty much already sealed, is far more experienced and the players who won promotion last season are well drilled in his style.

The key for Parker in the battle for Premier League survival will be ensuring the lows, when they inevitably arrive, do not fester. Which is why he was dipping into boxing parlance to drive home that point yesterday.

"The ups and downs will be there, you just need to make sure the downs don't hit you and knock you out," he said. "You need to make sure they are jabs on the nose and you get your guard back up again and start punching. That's what you need to realise when you're a team like us."

In the Championship there was an expectation that Fulham would win every game. Altering the mindset when the opposite is true in the top flight is another challenge but for those who were relegated in 2018/19 there is also a determination to prove a point.

Aleksandar Mitrovic, the Championship's joint-top scorer, found the net 11 times during that campaign but only in two games after Christmas. Asked if Fulham's destiny would be in the Serbia striker's hands, Parker was emphatic.

"Not really, no. We understand the quality we have in Mitro but the way that we survive the way that we're going to do well is going to be with a group of men that understand what's in front of them and what sticks together.

"Of course individual talent comes into that with any team. Mitro's a big part of that and no doubt he's going to be a big part of that this season. But it would be really unfair of me [to single him out]. I see as a group and as a collective everyone's going to have a say this year in terms of how successful we are."

Sheffield United, who finished ninth last season, will act as inspiration but Parker is not pinning too much on the result from tomorrow's game against Arsenal at Craven Cottage.

"They are the teams that we need to look at," Parker added. "They had a fantastic year last year and Chris [Wilder] will be the first to say what he demands from his players and to sometimes get the results is what I'm talking about really."

As for Parker's own development, the experience of promotion means that he will be more confident in his approach. Just do not expect him to change his overall philosophy.

"Experience is vital, isn't it? I'm now 18 months into the job and with that comes a vast amount of experience, whether that is lockdown, promotion, big games and the pressures of understanding that you've got to win games at certain moments, for sure that would have put me in a better position now. That is fair to say.

"My ideas from when I first started out with this team, how I see good teams and how I see what great teams have to develop them have not changed. They will always be there, they are ingrained in the back of my mind because I have some clear ideas on what is needed and how to develop that."

Yet evolution is required. Failure to adapt will make them sitting ducks, fodder for the big hitters and the Championship will come calling again.

"It's a challenge we have to embrace," he added. "It's a challenge we have to take on and I'm sure that we are in a good place to do that. I think mentally we're in that place, we all understand what we face and we're looking forward to that to be honest with you."



https://www.football.london/fulham-fc/scott-parker-outlines-fulham-avoid-18916242

WhiteJC

Leeds United: Phil Hay says there was talk of interest in Fulham's Joe Bryan

The Athletic's Leeds United correspondent, Phil Hay, discussed several topics regarding the club ahead of the new Premier League season, including Leeds' previous interest in Fulham left-back Joe Bryan.

Since moving to Fulham from Bristol City in what was a £6.03 million deal back in 2018, Bryan has gone on to make 78 appearances for the club, chipping in with four goals and providing nine assists along the way.



https://thisisfutbol.com/2020/09/transfers/leeds-united-phil-hay-says-there-was-talk-of-interest-in-fulhams-joe-bryan/

WhiteJC

Incomplete Arsenal Squad Mustn't Show its Weak Underbelly Against Fulham

A drastically reduced pre-season, on the surface, was the dream scenario; less time agonisingly waiting for the Premier League to return, twiddling our thumbs on Saturday afternoons and playing our 15th game of cards in a row. None of that.

No desperately trying to think of something worthwhile to do instead of parking our backsides on the sofa and having countless different pieces of technology on the go so we can get all the football we can feasibly indulge in at once.

Great, right?

Sure is, although that side of things foolishly overlooks the more intricate elements of running a football club, such as fitness, recovery time and rather crucially, managing a squad.

Mikel Arteta, no longer 'head coach' after his official title shifted to 'first-team manager', made it abundantly clear last season that his squad must undergo significant surgery this summer window if Arsenal are to stand any chance of returning to the Premier League top four. Words of encouragement, no doubt, but yet to come to fruition.

The window won't slam shut until 5 October, leaving plenty of time left to go, but as of yet, it's been a fairly quiet period for the Emirates Stadium doorman. Dani Ceballos has returned on loan, Willian joined as a free agent, Gabriel Magalhaes has come in for £27m, Pablo Mari and Cedric Soares have made their loans permanent and William Saliba is back from his loan, but otherwise, it's all quiet on the northern front.

No player has left the club for a fee - Henrikh Mkhitaryan had his contract mutually terminated - and the host of names touted to be coming into the fold to offer a timely squad boost have not come to fruition. Not ideal. Especially with no money left in the reserve tank.

With Fulham on the horizon as the early kick-off on Saturday, there is no time to cry over spilled milk. The squad available, a depleted, injury-ravaged and wholly incomplete side, must instead focus on the task at hand: claiming three points.

Despite there being some changes in personnel, the issues within the side that have repeatedly bubbled to the surface during Arteta's reign have not been entirely banished. As seen with the three most recent matches at Wembley, Arsenal have a newfound grit and solidity about them, but Arteta's main fault in his CV remains.

Altering the style to diminish attacking flow with a more structured and rigid shape, Arsenal scored fewer goals last season in the Premier League than they had done in the past 24 years. Still, they lost far too many points from winning positions under Arteta. After defeat to Tottenham back in July, the Gunners had dropped 15 points from matches where they had led, the most of any side since Arteta took over.

Performances, and results, have improved since, but with an incomplete squad to contend with at Craven Cottage, they mustn't allow that weak underbelly to return. Mohamed Elneny looks likely to start in midfield, as does Rob Holding in defence - two players who looked destined to leave this summer only for a lack of suitors and injuries respectively to put the brakes on such departures.

The pair put in a good showing in the Community Shield, but neither are infallible.

Whatever the odds may be, they will favour the visitors in west London. Fulham have come up via the play-offs, not invested heavily and themselves boast a rookie manager in the job. They are quite unanimously, favourites for the drop.

With a knee-trembling set of fixtures coming up for Arsenal, the emphasis on winning at Craven Cottage couldn't be more clear. After the Cottagers it's West Ham, then an utterly terrifying run of Liverpool, Sheffield United, Manchester City, Leicester and Manchester United, with another dose of the Foxes thrown in for Carabao Cup fun.

Start as you mean to continue runs true here; six points in London derbies could come about without any investment, while equally by the time those fixtures come and go, there will have been two weeks to fill the glaring holes in the squad before that daunting trip to Liverpool.

It has to be gutsy, determined and above all, solid. Signs of weakness have been weened out over the past few months, but that doesn't mean they've been put to bed entirely. Failure against everyone's favourite for the drop will be a tell-tale sign of that.



https://www.90min.com/posts/incomplete-arsenal-squad-mustn-t-show-its-weak-underbelly-against-fulham


WhiteJC

2020/21 Premier League Puts Extra Pressure On Leeds United, Fulham And West Brom

Newly promoted sides to the Premier League are often the favorites to go straight back down. This year, Leeds United, West Bromwich Albion and Fulham also have several other factors to contend with, making the challenge of staying in the top flight even more difficult.

39 Days Of Summer
The Premier League 2020/21 season kicks off at Craven Cottage on Saturday as Fulham take on Arsenal. But that match comes only 39 days since Fulham secured their return to the top flight with their play-off victory against Brentford.

The extremely short summer break affects all Premier League teams, but it hurts some teams more than others. Promoted teams often need to strengthen their sides a bit during the summer transfer window to bring them up to Premier League standard, and the side that goes up through the play-offs has less time to prepare than everybody else.

In 2019, Aston Villa had 77 days to prepare for the Premier League after getting promoted through the play-offs on the back of some blistering end-of-season form. Aston Villa needed, and bought, a whole new squad due to aging players and the loss of loan stars who helped them earn promotion. Those 77 days weren't long enough for their new squad to gel and as a result, Villa started slow last season, picking up just four points from their opening six games.

Settled Squads
Fulham's previous spell in the Premier League in 2018/19 was preceded by a similar, though far more misjudged, spending spree to Villa's. This season though, Scott Parker's squad is in more of a need of a revamp than it was in 2018. But apart from making Anthony Knockaert and Harrison Reed's loans permanent, their biggest signing so far has been Wigan Athletic's highly-rated left back Antonee Robinson.

West Bromwich Albion and Leeds United have had equally quiet transfer windows, although they have both added a bit of quality to their sides. West Brom managed to keep hold of Grady Diangana, who spent last season on loan at the Hawthorns from West Ham United. The reported unrest in the Hammers' dressing room over Diangana's sale shows how highly thought of he was in east London.

Leeds United have pulled off a bit of a coup in their signing of Spanish international striker Rodrigo. They also signed German international Robin Koch, although he has to fill the void left by Ben White, who was the best defender in the Championship last season.

The uncertainty of not knowing what league they will be in means that it's harder for the three promoted clubs to get a head start on transfers, especially when the relative cost of playing in empty stadiums and risk of financial ruin due to COVID-19 is so much higher in the Championship.

This, combined with the short pre-season, means they will all start the Premier League season with squads that look very similar to the ones that won them promotion. Some more signings might be on the way soon, but not by the start of the season.

Great Ground, No Fans
Elland Road, one of England's great stadiums, will once again see Premier League action on September 19th, but after a sixteen-year wait, that game could feel like a bit of an anticlimax. That's not just because Leeds are playing fellow newcomers Fulham that day, but because the 38,000-seat stadium will be empty. The games after the restart last season suggest that empty stadiums favor the stronger sides, erasing much of the home advantage for the rest of the league.

It's been speculated that newly-promoted clubs often start the season well, boosted by their fans cheering them on against stronger opponents. If that were true, then the lack of fans could hurt newly promoted clubs even more.

Over the past five seasons, newly promoted clubs have earned 0.79 extra points in their first six games compared to their six-game average for that season, meaning that on average, a newly promoted team is roughly two league positions higher after six games than where they will finish at the end of the season.

That small boost could be down to many factors, from fatigue and injuries as the season progresses, to just coincidence. Either way, no team over the last five seasons has survived solely due to their good start over the first six games.

Non-Stop Schedule
Another factor that will make a huge difference this season is the cramped Premier League schedule. The newly promoted sides don't have European fixtures to worry about, but nevertheless, they will still be playing at least two more midweek games than normal, and there will be no winter break. Rearranged fixtures due to bad weather or the coronavirus could put even more stress on the fixture list in the latter half of the season.

Leeds United put the 'Bielsa Burnout' narrative to bed last season, but Marcelo Bielsa doesn't rotate his sides as regularly as other managers. Apart from Brentford, Leeds used the fewest rotational players in the Championship top ten last season, with only six Leeds players getting between 500 and 2000 minutes of action as Marcelo Bielsa kept his faith in his regulars.

This could cause fatigue issues in the five or more double game-weeks that Leeds will have to play. But they had plenty of midweek games in the 46-game Championship season last year and still won the league, although their patch of poor form did coincide with the busy winter period.

Many pundits are expecting Leeds United to finish mid-table, but such factors like fatigue and empty stadiums could have a big impact on their final league position. For Fulham and West Brom, these factors will make it even harder for them to prove the pundits wrong.



https://www.forbes.com/sites/steveprice/2020/09/11/202021-premier-league-puts-extra-pressure-on-leeds-united-fulham-and-west-brom/

WhiteJC

Parker determined to keep 'vital' Bryan at Fulham

Scott Parker is confident Joe Bryan will sign a new Fulham contract.

The left-back struck an audacious goal against Brentford in the Championship play-off final barely a month ago, and then added a second to cement the Whites' promotion.

Bryan, 26, has attracted interest from Leicester, who identified him as a possible replacement for Ben Chilwell, who has joined Chelsea.

And Fulham have brought in Antonee Robinson – another left-back who garnered rave reviews last season.

But Parker is adamant Bryan is going nowhere.

He said: "Joe Bryan has been a massive part of what we've done and there's no way I want him to leave the football club.

"Of course, we've brought in Antonee Robinson to give him a push for that position, but Joe Bryan is vital to the club."



https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/football-parker-determined-to-keep-vital-fulham-star

WhiteJC

In Profile: Kenny Tete

Drew Heatley takes a closer look at the latest signing to come through the doors at Motspur Park.


Full-backs in the modern game are bloody important. And after the signing of Antonee Robinson to push my saviour and yours, Joe Bryan, on the left, I'm delighted that we've bolstered our options on the right with the signing of Kenny Tete – for a startlingly low price of €3.2m (£2.96m).

The headline facts are these: Kenny is a 24-year-old Dutch international right-back who (like recent recruit Alphonse Areola) has traded in Champions League football for a Premier League survival scrap with Fulham. The player arrives from Lyon on a four-year deal. But what can we expect?

Elite education
Tete started his career in Amsterdam. He started at acclaimed amateur club AVV Zeeburgia, noted for supplying a number of Dutch international stars throughout the years, former Fulham defender, Timothy Fosu-Mensah. So Ajax was the logical next step.

Having developed in the youth ranks and Ajax's second-string side, Jong Ajax, Tete made it to the first team squad in 2014, aged 19. He made his real breakthrough in 2014/15, making a name for himself with his tenacious and physical style. His penchant for a well-timed sliding challenge benefited the Dutch giants on many occasions, made him a firm fan favourite, and attracted interest from Bayern Munich in 2016.

Though he never picked up an Eredivisie, Tete was part of the promising crop of youngsters that reached Ajax's first European final in more than 20 years, as they fell to Manchester United in the Europa League Final in 2017.  Tete played 11 times in Ajax's ultimately fruitless run, but in the league he struggled to break into the side, with recent Brighton recruit Joël Veltman restricting Kenny to just five Eredivisie appearances.

France calling
That summer, Tete moved to Lyon in a deal worth €3m (£2.77m). It was at Les Gones that Kenny really found his feet. He helped Lyon to two consecutive third place finishes in his first two seasons. And though they finished a disappointing seventh last season, Lyon reached the Champions League final, losing 3-0 to Bayern Munich in Lisbon. Tete made cameo appearances as Lyon knocked out Juventus and Manchester City, and got 20 minutes under his belt as Lyon fell at the final hurdle.

Dutch strong style
Tete isn't known for his pace, though he's got a driving commitment that makes up for any lack of natural speed. His real strength is his defensive fervour. Not shy to put a leg in, he's known for his full-blooded style. But he's not reckless; it's the timing of his tackles that make Kenny stand out. He chips in with an assist here and there – four being his best tally during his first season for Lyon – but it's his solid defensive foundations on which he's built his success. We might not be driving forward too many times this season, so a player with a passion for actually defending is a plus.

Right-hand-side rotation
Tete's no stranger to competition, and has endured – nay, thrived on – rotation at both his previous clubs. It bodes well for a condensed Premier League season where he may well need to switch with Cyrus Christie and even Denis Odoi.

This isn't a mercenary coming in to collect some coin. This is a young player with a point to prove. The cheap price tag no doubt reflects the fact that Tete's been unable to hold down a starting berth consistently at Ajax or Lyon. But it's easy to forget that he's only 24. With two-dozen international caps for a resurgent young Dutch side and appearances in a Europa and Champions League final, he's well on his way – and we're set to reap the benefits of his next chapter as he aims to prove he can be the main man on the right-hand-side of our defence.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2020-09-11-in-profile-kenny-tete/


WhiteJC

Fulham set to improve bid for midfielder – Third offer for 21-year-old

Fulham are improving their offer for Benfica midfielder Florentino Luís, according to reports from Portugal today.

Newspaper A Bola says the Whites are presenting their third bid for the 21-year-old, as they 'don't give up' on the signing.

It's claimed that Fulham currently want to pay €2m for a loan deal, then include a buying option of €30m, but that may be still not enough to convince Benfica.

A Bola writes that the Eagles are trying to set the buying clause at €45m. And they're very comfortable doing that, since his release clause is €120m.

This report is a little strange because two days ago, newspaper O Jogo claimed that Benfica turned down Fulham's second bid for Florentino. And that offer included this same buying option of €30m.

So either A Bola or O Jogo are wrong, which is understandable, since each of them apparently have difference sources.

What looks clear is that Benfica are being pretty tough in negotiations for the midfielder, and the Premier League side will have a hard time to get him.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/fulham-set-improve-bid-midfielder-third-offer-21-year-old/

WhiteJC

Inter Not Interested In Signing Fulham Midfielder Jean Michael Seri Italian Media Claims

Inter have no interest in signing Jean Michael Seri according to a report in today's print edition of Italian daily newspaper Corriere dello Sport.

A report from British broadcaster Sky Sports yesterday suggested that Inter were considering a move for Seri due to not having the funds to sign N'Golo Kante from Chelsea but this report claims that Inter have clarified that such a hypothesis does not exist.

Either the Nerazzurri club will bring in Kante, as per the request of manager Antonio Conte, or they will not bring in another midfielder.

Kante is reportedly Conte's number one transfer target for the midfield with it understood that Conte believes that Kante's arrival would allow Inter to take another leap in quality.

Last season the French national team midfielder made 28 appearances across all competitions and in his time on the park, which totalled just over 2300 minutes, the 29-year-old scored three goals.



https://sempreinter.com/2020/09/11/inter-not-interested-in-signing-fulham-midfielder-jean-michael-seri/