Wednesday Fulham Stuff - 07/10/20...

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Chelsea star Ruben Loftus-Cheek determined to rediscover best form at Fulham

Ruben Loftus-Cheek is desperate to get back to his best after joining Fulham on a season-long loan from Chelsea.

The midfielder, who completed the move late last night, has struggled to get back into Frank Lampard's side following his long lay-off after an Achilles injury.

He is in need of consistent game time to win a place in Gareth Southgate's England plans for the Euros next summer.

The 24-year-old was one of three deadline day signings for Scott Parker's side, with two centre-backs arriving as Scott Parker looks to plug holes in his defence. Joachim Andersen arrived on loan from Lyon while Tosin Adarabioyo made a permanent move from Manchester City for an initial fee of £1.5million, signing a three year deal.

Speaking after his short move down the Fulham Road, Loftus-Cheek said: "I'm really happy to come 'next door,' if you will.

"I watched Fulham at the start of the season and they looked like they're playing decent football. With this manager, I think I can get back to my best football. That's the main thing for me, to find my form and help this team win games."



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/chelsea-star-loftuscheek-determined-to-rediscover-best-form-at-fulham-a4564586.html

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Rovers form key to Fulham move for 'formidable' Adarabioyo


Tosin Adarabioyo played twice against Fulham for Rovers last season

Tosin Adarabioyo earned a Premier League move on the back of his form at Rovers last season – joining another impressive former loanee at Craven Cottage.

Harrison Reed secured his permanent switch to Fulham from Southampton earlier this summer, after catching the eye while on loan.

Fulham beat Rovers to a loan deal in the summer of 2019, the Cottagers able to put together a more lucrative financial package for Southampton who had lent him to Rovers in 2018/19.

There his all-action style proved a hit with supporters, management and team-mates alike, but the prospect of an Ewood return for Adarabioyo was never likely.

He made 35 appearances in all for City, and the talk was he would return to the club he harboured hopes of captaining within five years to agree a new long-term contract.

However, that was forthcoming, and into his final year, Adarabioyo was keen to progress his career and opted for a switch to Fulham which at a reported £2m plus a 20 per cent sell-on fee could prove to be one of the bargains of the summer.

Adarabioyo had a loan spell at West Brom in 2018/19, but the majority of his appearances came at right back, his time at Rovers spent in his favoured, and more natural, central defensive birth.

He came up with three goals, and also went a whole season without a booking, making just 11 fouls in all, while his quality on the ball was telling.

Adarabioyo, who turned 23 last month, actually made his Rovers debut in a 2-0 defeat at Craven Cottage last August, while also featuring in the 1-0 defeat at Ewood in February.

And Fulham owner Tony Khan says his performances for Rovers were held in high regard by the newly-promoted, side and key to the deal was Adarabioyo's willingness to make the move.

Khan said: "I'm very excited to announce the addition of Tosin Adarabioyo to Fulham Football Club on a permanent transfer from Manchester City.

"Tosin has developed as a player and grown into a formidable defender out on loan to the Championship the past two seasons, where we saw his contributions at Blackburn Rovers first-hand last season during our promotion campaign.

"Tosin has received positive ratings from our data team and our coaches, and most importantly Tosin himself badly wanted to join us, and he will come in and fight for our club."

Rovers have been reluctant to use the loan market in this window, with losing the quality of Adarabioyo a difficult task to find a replacement.

Because of that, Rovers went down the route of finding an experienced Championship campaigner, rather than a prospect, with Daniel Ayala signed on a three-year deal after leaving Middlesbrough.

Should they wish to go down the route of loaning Premier League youngsters, then the deadline for such deals is 5pm on Friday, October 16.



https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/18772877.rovers-form-key-fulham-move-formidable-adarabioyo/

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Transfer window winners and losers as deadline day wraps up Premier League business

The summer transfer window is over - where European deals are concerned - but who were the big winners and who missed out as Deadline Day came and went? Mirror Football offers its assessment

It's the day after the night before, and as the dust settles on months of toing and froing between clubs, agents and players, there are several wry smiles across the faces of Premier League figures, as well as a number of sorry expressions.

The summer transfer window concluded with a busy deadline day as clubs scrambled to get the last of their business done in time.

Some got the targets they were after, while others went for Plan B or missed out altogether.

Players too were anxiously waiting on tenterhooks to discover whether they got that move they were waiting for, or wound up disappointed.

As usual there were some who fared better than the rest, with a few left licking their wounds.

Here are the winners and losers of the 2020 summer transfer window.

Winner: Dean Smith
The Aston Villa manager kept his side in the Premier League by the skin of their teeth last term.

Smith was labelled naive in some quarters pre-lockdown as a defensively-vulnerable Villa floundered in the relegation zone, before a newfound resolve post-lockdown saw them survive.

The transfer window has seen the boyhood Villa fan, working for the first time with a new director of football in Johan Lange, get exactly what he wanted, adding more speed and goal threat in attack (Ollie Watkins), athleticism and goal threat from midfield (Ross Barkley),

a right-back (Matty Cash) and a first-choice goalkeeper with presence (Emi Martinez). They've also, crucially, kept Jack Grealish.

All in, there's more defensive resistance, a greater attacking edge and an increased balance in Villa's preferred starting lineup; three wins from their opening three games, two clean sheets and 11 goals scored - seven against the champions - are testament to that.

For Smith, it has been an outstanding window.

Loser: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
All summer he wanted Jadon Sancho.

He made clear, privately, that the Borussia Dortmund star was the winger he wanted; the right player to further enhance his Manchester United attack.

United briefed that Sancho was the No.1 target, and Solskjaer spoke boldly about attacking the transfer market, at a time when some clubs would be restricted due to Covid-19.

He was dismayed that Ed Woodward wanted to start bidding at just over £50million. He remained dismayed when United wouldn't go near the £108million Dortmund were demanding - both before and after the German club's August 1 deadline had been extended to August 10, and then passed.

But Solskjaer doesn't have the kind of clout where he can rock the boat. He knows it. And there's little he could do about it.

Winner: Carlo Ancelotti
The Italian arrived at Goodison Park last December on the proviso that Everton would be backing him, substantially, in the transfer market eventually.

Farhad Moshiri has done just that this summer and now Ancelotti's declarations that Everton are competing for top six, top four, the title - basically everything - are no longer so foolish.

The midfield has been redesigned with players the Italian wanted, who are either hitting or are at their peak: Abdoulaye Doucoure, Allan, James Rodriguez. The latter pair are only on Merseyside because of Ancelotti.

Ben Godfrey has been added too in defence, a player of big potential.

Ancelotti now has the tools at his disposal with which Everton can compete. Four wins out of four thus far.

Loser: Eric Garcia
Eric Garcia will spend another year at Manchester City.

The Spanish defender has made no secret of his desire to return to boyhood club Barcelona but they Catalans failed to meet City's price tag.

They felt that his contract situation would see city lower their valuation - but they didn't.

That leaves Garcia at the Etihad, with little prospect of playing following the arrival of Ruben Dias from Benfica.

Winner: Mikel Arteta
Mikel Arteta was very clear back in July.

"I have a very clear plan and the specificity of the players, the positions and squad balance that we need to compete with the rest of the top teams in the country."

That clear plan involved revamping the defence, adding a top-level central midfielder, bringing in a little extra creativity to play in the half spaces and keeping hold of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Arsenal have done all of those things, with the late capture of Thomas Partey turning a good window into, on paper, a great one.

Loser: Fikayo Tomori/Ruben Loftus-Cheek
Chelsea were looking to offload either Antonio Rudiger or youngster Tomori after bringing in Thiago Silva to strengthen at centre-back.

Having started last season so well that he earned an England call-up, Tomori has now fallen down the pecking order and will struggle to get minutes.

He then had the option to go on loan to West Ham right before the window shut, which Harry Redknapp felt was "a good move for him".

But Tomori snubbed it in favour of warming the bench. Wasteful.

Blues teammate Ruben Loftus-Cheek has done the opposite by going in search of regular football.

Sadly for him he's ended up at basement boys Fulham and may have bitten off more than he can chew.

Winner: Daniel Levy
Every window the Tottenham owner is maligned by Spurs fans over his persistent haggling which tends to border on the extreme.

Even after breaking the club's transfer record last summer he still had his fair share of critics.

But Levy has come up trumps this time, sealing the return of Gareth Bale, a new striker in Carlos Vinicius, an exciting left-back in Sergio Reguilon, plus a couple more solid acquisitions.

Jose's a happy bunny.

Loser: Jack Wilshere
It seems a shame to be adding Wilshere to this list after his rotten luck with injuries, but the midfielder's time in the Premier League may well be up after his release by West Ham.

The ex-England international, 28, once revered as the country's next big star, only managed eight games in two years for the Hammers.

Things haven't worked out for him since leaving Arsenal, but here's hoping his release can be turned into a positive with a good move elsewhere.

A spell in MLS could be just the thing he needs to showcase his huge talent and get back playing again.

Winner: Eric Maxim-Choupo Moting
The former Stoke City forward raised eyebrows when he signed for PSG in 2018. That was pretty self-explanatory to be fair, given his relationship with Thomas Tuchel (who had him at Mainz) and their need for a backup forward who was versatile and wouldn't rock the boat where their first-choice attackers were concerned.

Now European champions Bayern Munich, similarly needing a backup forward who wouldn't be getting much game time - because that Robert Lewandowski guy is really - and wouldn't rock the boat have taken the Hamburg-born Cameroon international back to Germany.

Losers: Liverpool trio
Liverpool's perennial loanee Marko Grujic failed to get his move away and now looks set to be stuck in the reserves until January.

The Reds would only sanction a permanent deal for the Serbian, with no offers forthcoming and Hertha Berlin opting to loan Matteo Guendouzi instead.

Now with Liverpool having too many non-homegrown players, Grujic could be frozen out of their Premier League and Champions League squads, meaning he'll be plying his trade in the under-23s till at least when the next window comes round.

Harry Wilson has also remained at Anfield, as too has Xherdan Shaqiri, who has since tested positive for coronavirus.

Can't catch a break.

Winner: Chris Smalling
Unwanted at Manchester United, for so long it looked like Chris Smalling wouldn't get the return move to Roma that he and they wanted.

But on deadline day, Smalling finally sealed his transfer back to the Italian capital.

Winner: Jorge Mendes
Because it's always a good window when you're Jorge Mendes.



https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/premier-league-transfer-window-recap-22798345

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Chris Wilder threatens under-performing Sheffield United players with team shake-up for Fulham

The Blades boss says there could be changes for the next Premier League match

Chris Wilder says he will spend the international break thinking about changes to his starting XI after opening the season with four defeats from four.

The Blades are now not in action until Saturday, October 17 when they entertain Fulham.

That will already be seen so early in the season as a must-win match, especially with Liverpool, Man City and Chelsea all in a row following those games.

And after watching his side slip to a fourth successive loss on Sunday at the Emirates, Wilder says the international break will give him time to look at his team selection for the next match.

"It's difficult [international weeks] because those boys are representing their country because they are eight, nine times out of 10 our best players.

Ramsdale, Berge, Enda, John Egan, John Fleck, Oli McBurnie, Oli Burke, David McGoldrick that's a big chuck of players and they come back Thursday morning.

"There's not a lot you can work on in terms of a team shape, you have got to make sure you can work on the boys that we can work on back at Shirecliffe and we will do that accordingly.

"Hopefully, it will be valuable time for those boys.

"When you lose games it does open up. We have some players who are knocking on the door and I have to make sure I pick the right team against Fulham.

"That's going to be a challenge at the moment.

"There's a lot of spirit in the group but a lot of players who are not playing as well as they possibly should be with the standards they have reached.

"There are some good players who are not playing at the moment.

"Ethan was a difficult decision [to leave out at Arsenal] for us.

"Max Lowe and Jayden Bogle are knocking on the door as well.

"Rhian has not played a lot of football, so we'll condition him and he will be involved. Whether he starts or not is a decision looking at him in the next 10 days."



https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/football/news/sheffield-united-fulham-team-news-19059038

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Report: Fulham target rejected £16m Cottagers move; his club aren't happy

Barcelona are unhappy with Jean-Clair Todibo's decision to reject a £16 million move to Fulham after the La Liga giants were forced to accept a loan offer from Benfica instead, according to Mundo Deportivo.

While the cash-strapped Catalonians will be thrilled to get a couple of fringe players off an eye-watering wage bill on deadline day, the coffers at the Camp Nou are still a tad dry.

In an ideal world, Barcelona would have raked in about £30 million via the sales of Todibo and Rafinha Alcantara.

But while Rafinha's £14 million release clause went untriggered, with the Brazilian instead joining PSG on a free transfer, Todibo departed on loan rather than sealing a big-money move to the Premier League.

Fulham had offered £16 million for the French centre-back.

But while Barcelona were desperate to push through the move, Todibo was less enamoured by the prospect of swapping Camp Nou for Craven Cottage.

Perhaps that had something to do with the fact that, after four league games, Scott Parker's Fulham are bottom of the table without a single point.

Todibo, once described by 1990 Ballon D'Or winner Lothar Matthaus as the "best centre-back I've seen in a long time", has instead joined Benfica on loan.

The Lisbon giants have an option, not an obligation, to sign Todibo permanently in two years' time.

Barca may be waiting a while for that particular windfall – if it ever arrives.



https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2020/10/06/report-fulham-target-rejected-16m-cottagers-move-his-club-arent-happy/

[WhiteJC]

An Open Letter To Fans

Open Letter to Supporters: Together We Will Get Fans Safely Back into Grounds

The Premier League, EFL, The FA, Women's Super League and Women's Championship want to assure all fans that together we are fully committed to your safe return to football grounds as soon as possible.

The health of the nation remains our overriding priority, and for many months we have been working with experts to make our grounds as safe as, if not safer than, any other public activity currently allowed.  And we are consulting with the Football Supporters' Association to keep supporters updated every step of the way.

We know attendance at matches can play a positive role in people's lives during these challenging times. And the past few months have shown how clubs can still feel the support of their fans.  Even when you have been unable to get together, you and your clubs have found ways to make a difference in your communities, with clubs delivering food parcels, taking part in phone calls and online conversations with fans, the elderly and vulnerable and moving services and programmes online to make a difference in unprecedented and challenging circumstances. 

But we all know football is not the same without fans.  Every player and manager is missing the direct connection with you and the impact that you have on our games.

With the EFL, Premier League, Women's Super League and Women's Championship already staging 11 successful test events recently, we have demonstrated that we can deliver matches safely. The sooner we can return, the sooner we can reunite communities and support local jobs, livelihoods, regional businesses and also the national economy.

We will continue to urge Government to allow us to return fans safely to stadiums. It is positive progress that major arts and music venues have been told they can run socially-distanced events indoors. And now football should be allowed to do the same - in highly regulated and stewarded outdoor environments.

Additionally, representatives from football are active members of the Government's Sports Technology and Innovation Group, as well as being involved with their 'Moonshot' mass-testing project to open up the economy.  And in light of the postponement of test events we will intensify our efforts to pioneer new approaches - working with epidemiologists, scientists and medical experts in areas such as public health, clinical processes and occupational hygiene. This will make sure stadiums are COVID-safe by considering best practice screening and hygiene methods to ensure that fans and the general public will be safe and drive the Government's sporting plans to move faster.

Stadium environments can be modified and carefully managed. Measures could include screening spectators before they enter the ground, installing temperature checks, requiring masks to be worn, one-way systems and providing a code of conduct for all those attending on a matchday. This will all be bolstered by deep-cleaning practices to help further reduce the risk of virus transmission.

Clubs want to be pro-active on this matter and willing to consider measures both in the stadium and on the approach that will allay any concerns as to fans' safety. From a travel perspective, clubs will work closely with experts and local authorities to model solutions relevant for each stadium to ease pressure on public transport, while extra parking facilities could be available so a greater proportion of you can travel by private car or bicycle.

We are determined to identify a path forward with Government.  We need clarity for our clubs and for you as supporters as to what the roadmap for change in this area looks like. We all know why caution is needed, and we ask Government for consistency in their policy so sport is treated as fairly as other activities currently allowed to welcome spectators.

So, we will continue to urge the relevant authorities to let us, together, use innovative ways to bring fans safely back into football grounds, starting with a return of the test event programme.  If we do so, then the benefits will be felt not just by fans but throughout society and the economy.

Richard Masters, Premier League Chief Executive

David Baldwin, EFL Chief Executive

Mark Bullingham, FA Chief Executive

Kelly Simmons, FA Director of Women's Professional Game



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2020/october/An-Open-Letter-To-Fans/

[WhiteJC]

In Profile: Joachim Andersen
Sign a centre-back we said, and sign a centre-back they did. A big one in fact, 6 foot 4 Joachim Andersen arrived from Lyon on deadline day and, quite frankly, made all of our girlfriends swoon over him. Although another dreaded loan, this is an exciting signing for Fulham who have secured a young player with a bright future ahead of him.

For those of you who follow their European football, you will know how much Jean-Michel Aulas dislikes parting with his well earned cash. And for those of you who don't, well you do now. After a brilliant season with Italian side Sampdoria, Aulas and Lyon parted with €24M in initial payments to secure the services of Andersen, with a further €6M in ad-ons also coming the way of the Genoese.

Before his move to Lyon, Andersen was on the radar of a host of top clubs around Europe, with Arsenal and Everton trying to secure his signature. Being as tall as Joachim is, it's easy to see why he would catch the eye, but aside his presence in the air there are other facets to his game that make him stand out. His passing range in Italy was bettered only by Marcelo Brozovic and was recorded at 89%, very impressive for a man that does like a lengthy pass. This kind of passing range is going to be needed when launching counter attacks, or trying to play out of the back against weaker opposition.

What is also most notable about Andersen is that he comes as somewhat of a Swiss army knife in that he can play on the right or left hand side of defence, and has been deployed as a holding midfielder in his earlier days. Something that will encourage Fulham fans as left centre-half has been an issue for an extended period of time now. This comfortable deployment also points towards a good ability to read the game, and whilst his tackles per 90 is fairly low at 1.9 game in France, his ability to intercept and block chances is very encouraging.

Now, being that tall will have its draw-backs, and whilst 66% aerial duel rate is impressive over two seasons there is a worry about the lack of pace Andersen has in the Premier League setting. As covered by Jack and I during the deadline day podcast you can listen to HERE, there were struggles for Joachim with Lyon last year, notably when they changed to the three at the back style that bought them huge success in the Champions League. It was a strange old year for Lyon, who went so far in major competition but failed to match their form domestically, missing out on European qualification.

On the whole though, the bring in a centre-half with Champions League experience and such huge potential is an encouraging move for Fulham and alongside Tosin Adaraboiyo adds real quality and depth to the Scott Parkers defensive option. The only downside to this deal is that it wasn't done six weeks ago.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2020-10-06-in-profile-joachim-andersen/

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Croatian Media Claims Inter Midfielder Marcelo Brozovic Refused Move To Fulham

Inter central midfielder Marcelo Brozovic refused a move to newly promoted Premier League club Fulham in the recently concluded Summer transfer window according to a Croatian media report.

As per Sportske Novosti, Inter wanted to offload Brozovic in the transfer window but were unable to find a buyer for the former Dinamo Zagreb player.

Inter manager Anotnio Conte was prepared to send him to Fulham in a deal that would have seen Inter receieve €20 million plus Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa but Brozovic refused the move to the London based club.

Prior to him refusing a move to Fulham, the report claims that Bayern Munich gave up on the idea of signing as did AS Monaco, who were forced to abandon their pursuit due to lack of funds. He was also linked to Paris Saint-Germain but things never took off with the reigning French champions.

This season Brozovic has made three appearances across all competitions for Inter but he has failed to make any goal contributions yet.



https://sempreinter.com/2020/10/06/croatian-media-report-claims-inter-midfielder-marcelo-brozovic-refused-move-to-fulham/

[WhiteJC]

Peterborough United legend delivers a farewell goal in exciting EFL Trophy win over Fulham
Peterborough United legend George Boyd was on target for the first time in 18 months as Posh won a cracking EFL Trophy tie 4-2 against Fulham Under 21s at the Weston Homes Stadium tonight (October 6).

Boyd completed the scoring with a rasping drive across the goalkeeper 14 minutes from time. It's likely to be a farewell goal as Posh are hoping to move the transfer-listed veteran on before the window closes on October 16.

Mo Eisa, man-of-the-match Sammie Szmodics and teenager Flynn Clarke also netted in a dominant Posh performance. Darren Ferguson fielded a strong side and they were denied a bigger margin of victory by some fine goalkeeping and wasteful finishing.

Eisa's 25th minute finish to open the scoring was however typically cool.

Boyd started the move with a classy piece of skill close to the Fulham area. He found right wingback Idris Kanu who burst into the area at pace before losing control of the ball. Luckily it ran to Eisa who passed it into the net.

Eisa could have ended up with a first half hat-trick. Two minutes after his goal he was unmarked in the penalty area when he received the ball courtesy of two excellent passes from Boyd and Szmodics.

Eisa casually rolled the ball past Fulham 'keeper George Wickens, but the pace of his shot was too slow and a visiting defender raced back to clear.

And 10 minutes before the break a Szmodics run into the area was halted by Wickens. Eisa picked up the pieces, went around the goalkeeper and leathered a shot at goal only for Connor McAvoy to make a terrific block on the goalline.

Szmodics was impressive, as was Boyd, in the first period and the first-team regular's clever dink at goal was well saved by Wickens. Reece Brown oozed class throughout the first-half and he shot just wide from the edge of the area.

Wickens also did well to save at the feet of Szmodics and Eisa in quick succession early in the game.

Fulham were a threat on the break and were twice denied the opening goal by Posh 'keeper Dan Gyollai. Gyollai saved well with his feet after Fabio Carvalho had been sent clear and palmed a fierce shot from powerfully-built forward Jean-Pierre Tiehi over the bar.

Posh removed Eisa in favour of young Flynn Clarke at the break and there was a flurry of excitement at the start of the second-half with three goals, a piece of woodwork rattling and missed chances in the opening 15 minutes.

Jason Naismith smacked a cross against his own crossbar before Clarke was denied by Wickens after rushing through on goal.

The outstanding Szmodics made it 2-0 from the edge of the area on 49 minutes before Jayden Harris pulled a goal back for Fulham with the aid of a deflection three minutes later.

Two minutes after that Clarke was on hand to finish a left-wing cross and Posh threatened to run riot. Brown missed a one-on-one after a fine Boyd pass before Fulham closed the gap to one again with a volleyed finish from Tiehi in the 72nd minute.

But Posh always looked likely to score more goals and it was Boyd who claimed the first (and probably last) goal of this spell at London Road with a trademark left-foot strike across the goalkeeper and into the bottom corner of the net 14 minutes from time.

There was still time for Gyollai to make two decent stops from close range and from distance, while Wickens also kept out Posh substitute Serhat Tasdemir (twice), Boyd and Harrison Burrows.

The win leaves Posh with five points from two group matches and one foot in the knockout stages. They complete their group matches at Cambridge United next month.

Posh: Dan Gyollai, Niall Mason, Jason Naismith, Frazer Blake-Tracy, Reece Brown, Idris Kanu (sub Benjamin Mensah, 71 mins), Harrison Burrows, Ethan Hamilton, George Boyd, Sammie Szmodics (sub Serhat Tasdemir, 60 mins), Mo Eisa (sub Flynn Clarke, 46 mins).

Unused subs: Will Blackmore, Ronnie Edwards, Kyle Barker, Luke Harris.

Fulham: George Wickens, Tyrese Francois, Fabio Carvalho, Jaydn Mundie-Smith, Jayden Harris, Ryan De Havilland (sub Adrian Pajesiti, 74 mins), Ben Davis, Jean-Pierre Tiehi, Luca Murphy, Connor McAvoy, Oliver O'Neill (sub Terry Ablade, 60 mins).

Unused subs: Damian Las, Terry Ablade, Mika Biereth.

Goals: Posh - Eisa (25 mins), Szmodics (49 mins), Clarke (56 mins), Boyd (76 mins).

Fulham - Harris (54 mins), Tiehi (72 mins).

Referee: Trevor Kettle



https://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/sport/football/peterborough-united/peterborough-united-legend-delivers-farewell-goal-exciting-efl-trophy-win-over-fulham-2995052

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Cottage Talk: Wolves Post Match / Transfer Window Review

Take a listen to a podcast that focuses on Fulham Football Club.

This episode is a look back at the Wolves loss for Fulham, and also it is a review of the Transfer Window for the club.


You can also listen to the show by following this link...
https://cottagersconfidential.sbnation.com/2020/10/6/21504713/cottage-talk-wolves-post-match-transfer-window-review

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Chelsea's different intentions for Ross Barkley and Ruben Loftus-Cheek after loans

Chelsea had tried to offload a number of players on transfer deadline day with mixed success but Ross Barkley had already left for Aston Villa as Ruben Loftus-Cheek left it late to join Fulham

Chelsea may have let Ross Barkley and Ruben Loftus-Cheek leave on loan but both have left for very different reasons.

The Blues splashed out the most in the transfer window after over £200m was spent.

Kai Havertz topped the bill, costing a club-record £72m, but there were also moves for Ben Chilwell, Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech.

But Frank Lampard had wanted more and was eyeing a deal for Declan Rice only to be told by West Ham there was no way he would leave.

In the end, the Stamford Bridge outfit did not even make a bid for the England international.

That was because they could not shift enough of the fringe players on the final day of the transfer window.

Several players did leave, such as Tiemoue Bakayoko and Matt Miazga, but many - including the likes of Danny Drinkwater, Victor Moses and Emerson Palmieri - remain.

Two other players to leave were Barkley and Loftus-Cheek - but it is only the latter who looks likely to have a future at the club.

According to Football London, Chelsea have allowed Barkley to join Aston Villa on loan to put him in the shop window.

After the signing of Havertz, the Englishman has been further knocked down the pecking order and the Blues are looking to sell him on and are hoping his performances at Villa Park will coax someone into paying up.

As for Loftus-Cheek, Lampard has a clear plan for the 24-year-old - who has recently returned from an injury that kept him out for over 12 months.

It is understood that the England international needs game-time to get back up to speed but with so many players at Stamford Bridge, that is not possible at the moment.

Loftus-Cheek made the move down the road to join west London rivals Fulham on loan.

And Lampard wants to see him get as much playing-time as possible, with the idea that he returns to Chelsea fully fit and firing again.

Prior to his injury in 2019, the ex-Crystal Palace loanee was putting in some incredible performances and the Blues boss believes he can bring him back to that level.



https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/chelseas-different-intentions-ross-barkley-22804631

[west kowloon white]

Got me confused over what day it is.

[WhiteJC]

Got me confused over what day it is.

:dft001: I keep getting my mucking fords wuddled and its now  spread to reading the date on the calendar  :dft011:

[west kowloon white]

Thanks for all your efforts as always!!