Monday Fulham Stuff - 14/09/20...

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Results

Sunday
West Brom	0-3	Leicester
Spurs	0-1	Everton

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Dreams Really Did Come True For Arsenal Against Fulham

Now that is how you start a new season. Yesterday I threw some caution to the wind as promoted teams have the potential to throw a spanner into the works. Luckily it didn't turn out that way as the Arsenal team ran out comfortable winners against new boys Fulham.

A couple of the new boys in Gabriel and Willian started the match, both of them contributing largely to the win, Our star striker scored a trademark peach of a goal and we kept a clean sheet. What wasn't to love about that? The only dampener was the fact the fans weren't able to be there in person to celebrate with the team.

It really was an impressive start and that feeling of being top of the league for however long it lasts does feel nice. Let's enjoy it while we can as you can never guarantee once you are off the top how long before you return.

So what were the takeaway points from the game? Well I could start with before the game as BT Sports weren't slow in beaming out footage of a warm up spat between Dani Ceballos and Eddie Nketiah. Yes, things were a little heated in a couple of clashes but the whole thing was over as soon as it started. The two players sharing a picture of solidarity post match to quash any overzealous journalist's plans to take their first chips at Arteta's Arsenal amour with a negative story.

With that out the way and the game underway all eyes were on the new boys. It raised a few eyebrows when William Saliba wasn't even named on the bench given the injury to David Luiz. Arteta has his reasons and the young Frenchman's chance will come but in his absence Gabriel was given his first start and he didn't fail to impress.

Gabriel winning over teammates instantly.

Admittedly in the opening few minutes there was one moment where a mix up with Leno could have led to a goal but beyond that initial moment the performance of the Brazilian was calm, composed and dominant. The icing on the cake was a debut goal and clean sheet to make for an instant impact to his Arsenal career. I'm liking this start and there's capacity for him to get better and better, a massive tick of approval on this signing so far.

As for the other new boy, Willian took to his berth in the Arsenal line-up like a duck to water. Understandably he has bags of premiership experience and has been one of Chelsea's leading players over the years. His quality was not a surprise and I'm sure that now those that may have doubted his signing might have got a glimmer of what he has to offer.

Willian with a pleased Arteta

A debut with two (or three depending on how rose tinted your glasses are) assists isn't too shabby at all. His quality shone through and he has laid down the gauntlet of competition to his new colleagues that also occupy his position. Competition is healthy and it will no doubt bring out the best in the players. They cannot afford to rest on their laurels and there will be an expectation to bring their A game when called on to the pitch.

Lacazette chipped in with a goal which is always great for a striker to get off the mark nice an early into the season and of course our skipper contributed with what is becoming a trademark finish.

A finish I'd like to call the reverse Robben, you know that goal where he would fly down the right hand side, cut in onto his left, work an opening and bang! Back of the net. Aubamyang's finish was almost a carbon copy of his last goal against Liverpool in the Charity Shield in the way he cut himself an opening inside his marker then provided a finish of pure quality, power, bend and accuracy into the far corner. I wouldn't say you don't save those but more often than not even the best keepers struggle to handle such finishes. Another goal and the hope is a final conclusion to a new and improved signed contract this week.

One thing noticed was the absence of Emi Martinez from the squad and if reports are correct then he is on his way to Aston Villa. It will be sad to see the Argentinian go. He spent many years as an understudy in the hope of one day becoming number one keeper. Last season really was a defining moment in his career and one he hasn't needed to look back from since. It has been a meteoric rise in such a short space of time and Arsenal fans can't begrudge him the ambition he has to be a number one keeper somewhere. There are many keepers out there happy to be a career number two, pick up their wages, play a handful of games and be content with that.

Martinez will be missed but will always be remembered for his contributions.

Martinez has proved himself a very able keeper and a return to the Argentinian national squad and potentially become a feature for them is a very realistic possibility with club football as a number one. From a selfish perspective having two top quality keepers would be ideal but we can't begrudge one of our longest serving current players an opportunity to be more than a number two.

It's funny when you look back to that game against Brighton when Leno got injured and the amount of dread that spread through the fans that the season would be seen out with an understudy. Martinez had deputised many times in the past but it's really from the Brighton game that he proved all those years of hard work were visible in his performances. Can you imagine his worth before the Brighton game compared to now? He will be leaving us for a fee circa £20m which will hopefully be spent wisely on reinforcements.

The Martinez story could act as inspiration to the current crop of keepers and Matt Macey another keeper who has put in the years at the club could take any opportunities that come his way with both hands. Although I think a new keeper may come in, the door is not shut on current personnel to prove their selves. Let's see how this one plays out.

For now we can just bask in the knowledge that we are top of the league and for our new signing Gabriel dreams can come true.



https://gambeanosnitch.com/2020/09/13/dreams-really-did-come-true-for-arsenal-against-fulham/

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Fulham boss Parker stresses need for more signings after Arsenal loss

(Reuters) - Scott Parker believes his newly promoted Fulham need to dip into the transfer market to strengthen their squad as they look to avoid dropping straight back down to Engand's second-tier.

Fulham, who were promoted after winning the Championship playoff final against Brentford last season, are being tipped as one of the favourites to get relegated, as they were in 2018-19 after having also been promoted via the playoffs.

The London club were thrashed 3-0 by Arsenal in their season opener on Saturday and Parker - who has already signed Antonee Robinson, Mario Lemina, Harrison Reed, Anthony Knockaert and Alphonse Areola - believes more additions are necessary.

"I think we all realise when you step up from the Championship to the Premier League it is a massive jump," said Parker. "We have seen it in spurts today what that quality is."

"For us to evolve we need to bring players into this team that are going to improve us. That's our aim."

"Obviously in the short space, we have brought players in, but still there are the people in the background doing all they can to help us, the team and the club."

Parker, 39, had previously said there would be no wholesale changes to the squad that sealed promotion, while the club's director Tony Khan said they did not need to spend heavily to be competitive.



https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-england-ful/fulham-boss-parker-stresses-need-for-more-signings-after-arsenal-loss-idUKKBN264078

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What we learned from Fulham's defeat by Arsenal – and there are some positives

Oh dear.

Fulham's opening-day 3-0 home defeat by Arsenal was as comprehensive as it sounds.

Scott Parker stuck with the side that did so well for him in the Championship, but as the Whites boss warned, there is a Grand Canyon of difference between it and the Premier League.

What did we learn that about this Fulham side?

First, the warning signs...
Fulham need another central defender
Boy! Do they ever.

Fans reckoned the defence was the weak link last year.

And despite decent showings from Michael Hector, those in white can point their finger at him for the second goal, and at Tim Ream for the first.

Parker knows he's short in that department, and needs quality rather than willingness.

Passengers: you can't afford them in the Premier League
Assume encouraging words therefore headed the way of Josh Omonah and Ivan Cavaleiro – and to some extent Tom Cairney.

There are those with supporting roles, and those who walk on stage carrying a spear and exit just as quickly.

These three were very much the latter.

Onomah needs to go and fetch the ball if it isn't coming to him, and Cavaleiro needs to gain that extra 10% of confidence to really drive at defences.

Parker said captain Cairney had something to prove this time in the top flight. He'd better start proving starting with the away game at Leeds next Saturday.

Finesse of passes in the final third from Arsenal
Arsenal can really hurt you with a back heel or a first-time effort like the one from Xhaka that led to the opening goal.

There's no doubt Fulham are willing, but do they have craft or guile?

Abou Kamara is not that type of player.

Yes, he's raw speed and muscle, but bashing down a rock of a defence that was the Gunners needs a bit more than a battering ram.

On the plus side...
Fulham know a thing or two about dangerous crosses
They have the players in the likes of Denis Odoi and Joe Bryan to put the ball in the right areas, as Arsenal discovered.

Fulham just needed bodies on the end of them.

And that free flowing passing move on seven minutes is worth a second look.

It ended up with Odoi testing Bernd Leno; the closest Fulham got to a goal all afternoon.

They kept going even with backs to the wall
There was never a lack of shape about Fulham, even at 3-0 down.

The passing game that is meat and drink to Parker's men was there until the end, and they'll need it if they're to survive.

They have others waiting in the wings
Mario Lemina, Kenny Tete, Olna Aina and Alphonse Areola all saw their chances of making a debut sooner rather than later improve.

Assume Parker will also step up attempts to bring others in as well.

The side that succumbed to Arsenal is nowhere good enough.



https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/what-we-learned-from-fulhams-defeat-by-arsenal-and-there-are-some-positives

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Tottenham, Fulham and Aston Villa in transfer battle to land Bournemouth star

Bournemouth forward Josh King is keen on a Premier League return with Tottenham Hotspur, Fulham and Aston Villa all interested in his services, according to The Sun reporter Alan Nixon.

King was part of the Bournemouth side which suffered relegation at the end of last season, but he was not involved in the first match of the Cherries second-tier return as they beat Blackburn 3-2 yesterday.

It is now thought that the 28-year-old could leave the Vitality Stadium this summer if the price is right, and he is reportedly on Tottenham's transfer short list while Fulham and Villa are also considering a swoop.

King has been a fine servant for Bournemouth since his arrival at the club in 2015, with the former Manchester United man having netted a total of 50 goals during his 167 appearances for the south-coast club.

However, the forward only managed to score six league goals during the Cherries' relegation-stricken campaign last term as Eddie Howe's men suffered a sharp downturn in form which saw them drop to the Championship.

Their relegation has seen a number of key figures leave the club with Nathan Ake and Callum Wilson having already sealed moves back to the top flight, and it now appears as though King could be set to follow in their footsteps.

The Verdict

Bournemouth will want to avoid losing another of their star attackers following Wilson's recent move to Newcastle, but it now appears increasingly likely that King will be on the move given this strong interest from top-flight sides.

The forward will feel he has shown enough quality during his time at Bournemouth to justify a move back to the Premier League, and the Cherries should try and get this move done as soon as possible in order to re-invest the funds.

There would be little point in them holding on to King given his head will have been turned by Tottenham's interest, and they need to turn their attention to other players in order to ensure they are fully equipped for a season in the second tier.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/tottenham-fulham-and-aston-villa-in-transfer-battle-to-land-bournemouth-star/

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Fulham boss Parker determined to keep Bryan

Joe Bryan looks set to stay at Fulham despite apparent interest from Leeds United and Leicester City.

Leeds have reportedly made enquiries about the left-back, who has also been linked with Leicester as a potential replacement for Ben Chilwell following the England international's recent move to Chelsea.

Fulham's signing of left-back Antonee Robinson from Wigan seemed to suggest that Bryan might be on his way from Craven Cottage.

However, West London Sport reports that Fulham boss Scott Parker is determined to keep Bryan, whose two goals in the play-off final against Brentford took the club back to the Premier League.

Parker 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."

Fulham's league season began with a crushing 3-0 defeat against Arsenal in a one-sided London derby on Saturday.

"When you are a team like us that has come from the Championship you can't let defeat after defeat really cripple you," Parker told the BBC.

"We are going to lose more than we win but as a team you have to keep learning and developing."



https://londonfootballnews.co.uk/fulham/football-wls-boss-insists-there-is-no-way-leeds-united-and-leicester-target-will-be-sold/

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Games for mid-week 16/09
We travel to Ipswich for a Carabao Cup game.

Following on from our first game back in the Premiership we get the distraction of a League Cup game.

Perhaps we'll get to see some of the "new" boys, Areola, Robinson, Lemina? could be useful as a competitive development game.

Ipswich will be looking for a Premier scalp, so it should be a good game.

COYW's

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=1374

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Reality hits Fulham hard

You have to go back a while to find happy Fulham memories of the Premier League. Our last two seasons were dismal relegations, with six managers, an orgy of spending and not a semblance of a tactical plan. The fixture computer wasn't kind this time around: by the time it handed Scott Parker an opening day test, Arsenal had been transformed from the shambles that Unai Emery bequeathed Mikel Arteta into a hungry side with a new shape and plenty of pace up front.

The morning after a top flight humbling is tough, but the Whites will need to learn their lessons quickly. This campaign is condensed into eight months and two genuine six-pointers arrive in quick succession. It will help that Fulham will know what to expect from Marcelo Bielsa, having been on the wrong end of an exhibition of ruthless at Elland Road last season, but as Liverpool found out last night, Leeds are nothing if not enterprising. They will have eye their first home fixture as an ideal opportunity to grab three points. In truth, until Fulham are able to change a few minds, most of the division will view Parker's side as the league's whipping boys.

That's not as bad a place to be as it sounds. There's potential for complacency from other sides, but such uniformity in writing Fulham off will foster a bit of siege mentality at Motspur Park. About the only positive from yesterday's humbling at the hands of an impressive Arsenal side was that, three goals down midway through the second half, Fulham were able to stem the bleeding. There was plenty of fight – something that was sorely lacking during our last season in the top flight – even if the gulf in quality was far too big to bridge.

There are things Parker will need to pick up on as well. Fulham's best period in the game was the first ten minutes. They pressed Arsenal with purpose and clearly unsettled the visitors. Had Aboubakar Kamara taken the chance that was laid on a plate for him in the second minute, then Parker's gameplan might well have come into its own. These are the harsh realities of Premier League. Arsenal scored from their first attack, exposing the soft underbelly that Fulham's defence remains, and they never looked seriously threatened again. Fulham's press became somewhat stilted after that, the front three remained energetic, but the central midfield duo proved far too passive – especially against a pair of holders in Granit Xhaka and Mohamed Elneny.

The Fulham head coach will have had his reasons for selecting the eleven he did: loyalty would have been near the top, with the lack of fitness of some of the new signings following behind. But there's little room for sentiment here. Tim Ream and Denis Odoi have been sterling servants for Fulham, but they are patently not good enough at the highest level. Expect Kenny Tete and/or Ola Aina to be introduced against Ipswich – whilst efforts to recruit a dominant centre back to play alongside Michael Hector, who also endured an error-strewn afternoon, must come to fruit quickly.

The balance of Fulham's side felt fundamentally off too. Harrison Reed was left with far too much shackling to do, which might be the case against the league's better opponents whatever line up Parker puts out. We saw a far more offensive-minded cameo off the bench from Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa – I'd be intrigued to see whether his physicality could help shut down some passing lanes from the kind of deep-lying midfield position where Tom Cairney featured yesterday – and it can't be long before Mario Lemina gets a go either. Unfortunately, Ivan Cavaleiro, who was one of the day's most surprising selections, was anonymous again. Neeskens Kebano at least ran at Arsenal defenders with purpose – offering something different to what became laboured and largely predictable passing.

The greatest flaw in Fulham's line-up was the absence of Aleksandar Mitrovic. This seemed tactical, although the fact that Mitrovic had spent most of the final week of pre-season with Serbia might well have influenced Parker's thinking. It was no surprise that, within moments of coming on, Mitrovic had spun away from Hector Bellerin and fired a shot in at goal. He is Fulham's only true performer of Premier League pedigree – the key will be providing him with the service and support to flourish, particularly as numbers in the opposition box were in short supply again yesterday. The game's most telling statistic was that the home side failed to successfully complete a single pass in the Arsenal area.

Parker, a study in preparation if there ever was one, would have been disappointed by the way Fulham handed the Gunners a couple of goals yesterday. Those sort of mistakes have to be eliminated and fast. It might be too soon for wholesale changes, but with a second string and a sprinkling of the new signings to be integrated into the League Cup side to play Ipswich on Wednesday night, we might see a gradual evolution away from last season's eleven. Fulham will know that they can't afford to be cut adrift at the foot of the table – and the next fortnight offers opportunities to upset the applecart. They will need to take them.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2020/09/reality-hits-fulham-hard/

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Bournemouth forward wanted by Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa

Bournemouth forward Josh King is on the radar of Tottenham Hotspur, Fulham and Aston Villa, according to journalist Alan Nixon on Twitter.

The Norway international could be thrown a Premier League lifeline before the end of the transfer window.

Bournemouth started life back in the Championship with a 3-2 win over Blackburn Rovers yesterday but face a real battle to hold onto King over the coming weeks.

King, who is 28 years old, scored six goals in all competitions for them last season as they slipped out of the Premier League. He joined Bournemouth in 2015 and has chipped in with in 50 goals in all competitions over the past five years.

The Cherries would find it hard to start in his way if a top flight club came in for him and the price was right.

The pacey forward started his career in England at Manchester United and the Red Devils tried to bring him back to Old Trafford in January.

King made two appearances for their first-team as a youngster and had loan spells away at Preston North End, Borussia Monchengladbach, Hull City and Blackburn Rovers.

Blackburn made his move to Ewood Park permanent in 2013 and he scored eight goals in 74 matches for the Lancashire side before Bournemouth signed him in 2015.

He has been a useful player for the Cherries but could be on his way out now.



https://the72.co.uk/191924/bournemouth-forward-wanted-by-fulham-tottenham-hotspur-and-aston-villa/

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Report: Aston Villa agree deal to sign Bertrand Traore

Aston Villa have reached an agreement to sign Lyon forward Bertrand Traore this summer, according to reports from Lefaso.net.

Dean Smith's side have already signed Matty Cash and Ollie Watkins, and Villa are looking to make more additions in the summer transfer window.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has claimed today that Villa have agreed a deal to sign Emiliano Martinez from Arsenal, and they are also in talks to bring Milot Rashica from Werder Bremen to Villa Park.

And now, LeFaso claims that Villa have reached an agreement for Traore as well.

The Daily Mail reported that Aston Villa made a £19million bid for the Lyon winger, after they had already failed with one bid of £15.7million for Traore.

The winger is keen on a move to Villa Park as he is excited to play in the Premier League.

The report claims that both sides have reached an agreement for Traore, although the details of the deal are still pending.

LeFaso claims that Villa are likely to have offered €20 million, plus bonuses, and the contract length and other details are being currently discussed.

As it stands, barring a last-minute change, the 25-year-old winger will head to Villa for his medical on Monday.

Three Premier League clubs – Fulham, Crystal Palace and Leicester – have also shown keen interest in signing Traore, but it seems Villa have won the race for his signature.

The Sun journalist Alan Nixon claimed that the Cottagers are 'looking' at him, and it remains to be seen whether they make any late move to hijack the deal.



https://sportslens.com/report-aston-villa-agree-deal-to-sign-bertrand-traore/313424/

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Back with a whimper

Arsenal's Alexandre Lacazette, left, scores during the English Premier League soccer match between Fulham and Arsenal in London, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020. (Paul Childs/Pool via AP)

Would the 2018/19 season have gone any differently had Fulham stuck with the squad that got them promoted instead of spending lavishly? It was a question that was endlessly debated for over a year by pundits and fans alike.

Against Arsenal on the opening day yesterday, Fulham supporters got their answer: probably not. The Gunners dominated after a bright start from the home side, winning at a canter and dismantling Scott Parker's side, which featured precisely none of their summer signings. The same team that had battled through the play-offs was no match for Arsenal's outrageously gifted attack.

Yes, it was the first match of the season. Yes, we were missing Aleksandar Mitrovic. Yes, Arsenal look to be one of the top frontlines in the division. And yes, we played decent football in some spells.

But no matter the excuses, you can't look past a 3-0 home defeat where Fulham only mustered two shots on target.

The individual defensive errors that plagued our last Premier League campaign came back with a vengeance. The display, although plucky, contained no cutting edge.

And it became clear that for all the cliches of togetherness and maintaining team spirit, the reality of the Premier League's intense quality outshines all else — and the harsh truth is some Fulham players are just not up to the task.

As I've argued before, Fulham's lack of central defensive options will doom us this year if left unaddressed. I was not surprised by what I saw on Saturday. Tim Ream botched a clearance and gifted Arsenal a goal. Michael Hector inexplicably granted an Arsenal player a free header from five yards at a corner. Such individual errors were the cornerstone of our last top flight campaign. And much like in 2018/19, on Saturday Fulham didn't play terribly. But when we were under pressure, we wilted.

The club's soft underbelly is maddening and is a surefire way to go right back down. It is more clear than ever that Fulham need to sign at least two new centre backs. We need competition and choices in the most important position.

Things will likely get better as our summer signings get acclimated and mesh into the team. But for now, it's clear that Fulham cannot seriously expect to retain their Premier League status with a Championship-quality team.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2020/09/back-with-a-whimper/

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Baptism of fire for Fulham
Fulham 0-3 Arsenal
by Kaleem Aftab
at Highbury

THE fortunes of Arsenal have changed for the good since the arrival of former player Miguel Arteta in the manager's hot seat. In winning the FA Cup and Community shield the team have become more solid at the back and clinical up front.

And now Arteta is showing an eye for a transfer as his new signings, Willian from Chelsea and Gabriel from Lille, were the shining lights as Arsenal took a comfortable win at Craven Cottage with goals from Alexandre Lacazette, Gabriel and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

"Gabriel and Willian were both very good," Arteta said.

"For Willian, he knows the Premier League well and I knew he would settle quickly. For Gabriel it was a big challenge, he has not played football in the last six months and he was a handful today."

In stark contrast, Scott Parker chose not to use any of his new signings, picking 10 of the 11 players who started their play-off victory a month ago. So perhaps it's unsurprising that this game was a familiar tale for Fulham, playing well and attractive on the ball until frail defending saps the life out of them.

Fulham started brightly with Aboubakar Kamara almost scoring an opportunist goal. Then Arsenal scored with their first mass foray into Fulham's half. Aubameyang's ordinary cross led to panic in the Fulham defence before the ball arrived at Lacazette to slot home.

The start of the second half was game over. Gabriel rose unchallenged from a corner, the ball bouncing off his shoulder and through Marek Rodak's legs. Just before the hour, Aubameyang wrapped things up with a lovely curling finish into the far post.

"We have to defend better," lamented Parker. "When you step up from the Championship to the Premier League it's a massive jump as you have seen today. We have to evolve and buy players that will improve us."

The last time Fulham were in the top division, they were criticised for throwing caution to the wind and trying to integrate too many new players too quickly. Parker has a more pragmatic approach, but the defence needs remodelling.

Arsenal are certainly the dark horses this year, and Arteta now has a happier problem: "Selection is getting more difficult now we are back to 18 in the match day squad, and those on the bench and at home will have to raise their level."



https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/s/baptism-fire-fulham

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The Contrasting Perception of Fulham and Leeds' Opening Day Defeats

Most managers - and grizzled ex-pros-turned-pundit - firmly maintain that the league table is of no significance before Christmas, at the earliest.

However, if you dared to cast an eye over such a chart on Saturday evening, Fulham and Leeds United's record would read exactly the same: one game, one defeat. Yet the outlook for each promoted side wildly differs after 90 minutes of the 2020/21 campaign. At least on the face of things.

At the home of the defending champions, Leeds went blow for blow with Liverpool. Marcelo Bielsa's side were level going into the final knockings before an 88th-minute penalty saw them lose 4-3. A handful of hours beforehand, Fulham succumbed to a limp 3-0 defeat at home to Arsenal - last season's eighth-placed side.

Both Fulham and Leeds enjoyed success in the Championship last season with a healthy helping of possession - although with quite different intensity. Bielsa asserted prior to kick off: "We play every game the same way."

And that is exactly what they did.

Alongside the expected blur of pressing which commenced from the first whistle, Leeds were actually able to lay claim to a larger share of the ball than their hosts. This was the first time Liverpool have had less than 50% possession in any match since November 2019.

Fulham, on the other hand, were barely able to impose themselves upon Arsenal. But perhaps more worryingly, the same weaknesses which dogged their promotion campaign sprung up again on Saturday afternoon.

Scott Parker's side were very slow in transition last term. By the time they'd creaked into an attacking set up, more often than not, they were faced with a defence which has had ample opportunity to organise itself.

Under Mikel Arteta, Arsenal showed themselves to be surprisingly resilient towards the end of the season just gone. Carrying this through to the current campaign, the Gunners' rigid 5-4-1 formation out of possession offered their hosts little in the way of opportunities of any kind, let alone clear cut chances.

The Cottagers carved out just five shots in the match, all but one of which was from outside the box - and the single effort which they did fashion inside the area was blocked.

However, despite the fact that they found the net on three separate occasions, Leeds only had one more shot than Fulham could muster - six in total.

All three of their efforts on target got the better of Alisson but they can hardly be expected to replicate this scoring touch - a conversion rate which flies wildly in the face of last season's efficiency. Leeds topped the charts in terms of chances created last season but converted less than 9% of the shots they took - the worst finishing rate among the Championship's top 15 clubs.

After the game Bielsa touched on this inimitable clinical edge, saying: "To be able to score three goals is a positive thing," as quoted by The Guardian. "We should have created more danger when we attacked. We were very efficient but we didn't create enough goalscoring opportunities."

Their finishing may have differed on Saturday but both Fulham and Leeds built their promotion successes on a solid defensive foundation. Yet each manager will have been bitterly disappointed with the goals their sides shipped on the opening day.

Leeds only conceded three penalties in the entirety of the previous Championship campaign but gave away two against Liverpool. The other two efforts came from set pieces and Bielsa was clear in his assessment of the concessions: "A lot of those goals could have been avoided."

Fulham themselves fell foul of a dead ball delivery. Parker described his team as 'a little bit weak' when defending the corner kick Gabriel nodded in Arsenal's second from. Fulham's last two Premier League campaigns - 2013/14 and 2018/19 - both ended in relegation and saw the Cottagers concede the most top flight goals that term.

Yet while Parker's possession-based style lacked the pace towards goal, it helped contain the opposition and earned Fulham 17 clean sheets last season - a tally only bettered by, you guessed it, Leeds.

Bielsa's side may have been one lazy, outstretched leg away from a point at Anfield but the gap between the teams was significantly larger than that narrow margin according to the expected goals (xG) for each outfit - Liverpool boasted a total of 3.3 compared to Leeds' 0.6.

By the same metric, Arsenal's return of 1.8 bettered Fulham's measly 0.2, but by a smaller difference than Liverpool's underlying superiority over Leeds.

While the scorelines of these opening fixtures saw Leeds lauded for their front-foot approach (which was admirable) and Fulham tossed aside under the tag of relegation candidates, both were quite comfortably beaten by establish Premier League sides.

That's, of course, not to say that each will fare as well as the other over the course of the season - there is some reason to the sentiment of avoiding conclusions after a single match. Although, the picture should be a fraction clearer after the pair meet next Saturday.



https://www.90min.com/posts/contrasting-perception-fulham-leeds-opening-day-defeats

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Scott Parker targeting 'redemption' for Fulham on Premier League return


Redemption: Scott Parker ( Pool via REUTERS )

Fulham boss Scott Parker has told his players to use this season's Premier League campaign as a shot at redemption after they were relegated a year ago.

It was back then in 2019 that Fulham finished 19th in the Premier League having won just seven of their top-flight matches.

Parker has since admitted many of his squad were scarred by that campaign, but they bounced back to gain promotion from the Championship by winning the play-offs.

The Fulham boss has warned his players they will suffer defeats and knock-backs again this season, but they must use the campaign exorcise past demons.

"You are right and that's a constant message that we are driving home to the team," said Parker after his side lost 3-0 to Arsenal on Saturday.

"You can't let mistakes and defeats, certainly for us this year, really, really scar you.

"Of course the last time we were in this division it didn't go too well. It is something we are trying to improve, which we will.

"I think this is redemption for them as well. You can look at it as a challenge for them and to give them something to prove."



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/fulham-news-scott-parker-redemption-a4546426.html

[WhiteJC]

Fil-French goalie Alphonse Areola joins Fulham on loan

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 11) - Filipino-French goalkeeper Alphonse Areola takes his talents to the prestigious English Premier League after being signed by Fulham on loan.

The Cottagers announced the signing of the 27-year old booter on their official Twitter account.

"Fulham is a historic club in London and I have heard a lot about the stadium. I want to bring my energy and do everything for this team to keep us where we belong to be," said Areola.

Philippine Azkals goalkeeper Neil Etheridge, who signed a fresh four-year contract with another Premier League club Birmingham City, played for Fulham from 2008 to 2014.

Areola, born in Paris to Filipino parents, will make his Premier League debut on Saturday night (Philippine time) as it hosts Arsenal.

The 6'5" keeper is currently part of Paris Saint-Germain, playing with football stars like Neymar and French national football teammate Kylian Mbappe. He won 10 trophies with the team, including three French League titles.

Areola last played, also on loan, with Spanish football club and La Liga champion Real Madrid. He was also tapped on loan by other Ligue 1 clubs like Racing Club de Lens, Sporting Club Bastiais, and Villareal FC.

Areola is part of the French national football team who won the 2018 FIFA World Cup. He also played for the French national football youth squads from 2008 to 2014, highlighted by his crucial saves in the penalty shootout during the Finals to guide France into the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup title.



https://cnnphilippines.com/sports/2020/9/11/Fil-French-goalie-Alphonse-Areola-joins-Fulham-on-loan.html

[gang]

Birmingham City been promoted without me noticing?