Friday Fulham Stuff - 16/10/20...

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Plymouth Argyle sign Fulham striker Timmy Abraham on short-term loan

The 19-year-old will be with Ryan Lowe's Pilgrims until January

Plymouth Argyle have signed Fulham's 19-year-old striker Timmy Abraham on loan until January.

The deal with the Premier League club was completed in the build-up to the 5pm domestic transfer deadline today.

Abraham was reportedly a target for German Bundesliga club Borussia Dortumund earlier this month.

According to Transfermarkt.de, Dortmund wanted to bring in Abraham on loan, with a £2 million option to sign him.

The intention was that, initially, he would have played for Dortmund's second team.

However, the paperwork was not completed in time before the international transfer window closed on October 5.

Transfermarkt.de also reported that Dortmund could renew their interest in the London-born striker in January.

For now, Abraham has joined Argyle and is set to be in their squad for the League One game against Northampton Town at Home Park tomorrow.

The younger brother of Chelsea and England striker Tammy Abraham, he has not played for Fulham at first team level.

He has, however, scored two goals in three starts and two substitute appearances for the club in the EFL Trophy over the past couple of seasons.

Abraham signed on loan for League One side Bristol Rovers last January but played only four times off the bench for them.

The striker is described on the official Fulham club website as 'A direct attacking player who can play centrally or wide'.

He will add to Argyle manager Ryan Lowe's attacking options, which also include Ryan Hardie, Luke Jephcott, Frank Nouble and Dom Telford.

Abraham scored one of the goals for Fulham when they beat Argyle 2-0 int he Premier League under-23 Cup at their Motpsur Park training ground last November.

He will wear the number 29 shirt for Argyle, where his team-mates will include another on-loan Fulham under-23s' player, Jerome Opoku.



https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/sport/football/plymouth-argyle-sign-fulham-striker-4612303

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Steve Bruce names three senior Newcastle United players who will face Fulham
Matty Longstaff's set for his first game of the season – after recovering from injury.

The Newcastle United midfielder – who signed a new deal at the club in August – hasn't played so far this season because of a thigh problem. However, Longstaff has trained all week, and Steve Bruce has pencilled him in for a start in Monday's Under-23 game against Fulham at St James's Park.

"Thankfully, he's traimed for a week," said United's head coach. "We'll play in him alongside Ciaran Clark and Paul Dummett. Touch wood, it looks like he's on the road to recovery."

Longstaff's return to fitness comes ahead of tomorrow night's home game against Manchester United. The 20-year-old, memorably, scored on his Premier League debut against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side last season, and also netted at Old Trafford.

All Newcastle's international players, including defender Fabian Schar, have returned unscathed.

Schar played three games for Switzerland despite being taken off against Burnley with a shoulder problem, while left-back Jamal Lewis returned early from Northern Ireland duty because of an Achilles issue.

Winger Ryan Fraser also topped up his fitness with three Scotland appearances.

"They're all OK," said Bruce. "Everyone's returned OK. Jamal Lewis returned early. That was agreed, and he's fine. Fraser, great news for him. We needed him to be careful. He's not played since last March much. So, yeah, it's done him the world of good – and he got a winner."

Meanwhile, Bruce confirmed that goalkeeper Martin Dubravka is making slower-than-hoped progress from an operation on his heel. Bruce said: "It's slower than we would have liked. Let nature take it's course."



https://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport/football/newcastle-united/steve-bruce-names-three-senior-newcastle-united-players-who-will-face-fulham-3005537

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The academy conundrum: why are our young stars not coming through?
In his first piece for Fulhamish, Charles Jones looks at the curious case of our academy.

A few years ago it looked like we were on the verge of a golden era in SW6.

It seemed as though every other week we were hearing about a new young star emerging at Motspur Park, ready to take the first-team by storm.

It all started well enough, as Ryan Sessegnon trailblazed his way to a Championship Player of the Year award during our electric 2017/18 promotion season, while others such as twin brother Steven, Harvey Elliott, Cody Drameh and Matt O'Riley were all in the background earning a lot of praise for their work with our youth outfits.

Yet, here we are, almost in 2021, and not a single one of the players mentioned above is at the club or in the squad for this season, Ryan Sess was always destined for bigger things, but Steven Sess is out on loan at Bristol, while Elliott, Drameh and O'Riley have left without making any real impact on the first-team, despite once being touted as the club's future.

A perilous position
A whole generation of young talent came and went without us even noticing, and the club looks like it's getting ready to repeat that same mistake.

Timmy Abraham would've left for Borussia Dortmund at the end of the transfer window if it wasn't for mistakes on our side, while Jay Stansfield wasn't even making the bench during Aleksandar Mitrovic's absence towards the end of last season, despite our utter lack of depth in the striker position.

Too dangerous to debut
The problem is that it's been a long time since Fulham have been able to take any risks on the pitch.

Ever since the 2013/14 season, every single campaign has been nerve-jangling.  We've been staving off relegation to League One, chasing a play-off spot or competing for automatic promotion, and struggling to stay in the Premier League. When every game is a must-win, you can't afford to consistently hand out debuts and chances to young players. It's too much of a risk.

Is the answer mediocrity?
Think back to the last time we were a comfortable Premier League team. We had a number of young players getting chances; the likes of Kerim Frei and Alex Kačaniklić were regulars in the matchday squad. And while Pajtim Kasami wasn't an academy graduate he racked up more than 50 appearances before his 22nd birthday.

Compare this to last season, and the only player under the age of 21 who got a league start was Steven Sessegnon, and while the likes of Sylvester Jasper, Luca De La Torre, O'Riley and Stansfield did feature in the league, they had to settle for just 77 minutes between them.

Unfortunately, Fulham once again aren't in a position where they can start a game with anything less than a full-strength squad as the threat of relegation looms over Craven Cottage like a dark cloud, but you can't help but feel like we're once again in danger of wasting the fruits of our category one academy's labour.

What more can we do?
It's all well and good pointing out that this is a problem, but what is the solution?

Perhaps the answer lies with one of the rare success stories from our academy in recent years, Marek Rodak. He cut his teeth with numerous loan spells before becoming a vital part of our squad, so why isn't this model used more often?

Look at someone like Luca De La Torre, he made his first-team debut way back in the 2016/17 season, but despite getting chances from a young age, these were few and far between, with the American making just 14 senior appearances before leaving this summer, and it's hard to imagine that he wouldn't have benefitted from a loan spell or two.

That could be where the answer lies, just look at the latest England squad and you have examples of some of the most talented players in the country benefitting from loan spells in the lower leagues to hone their craft.

Jack Grealish played for Notts County, Jordan Pickford spent a season as Bradford's number one and even Harry Kane had four loan spells before becoming a regular at Spurs.

Of our current batch of players out on loan, you could argue that we're looking to nurture Steven Sess, though he broke into the first team on 11 occasions last season. But the real positive sign that we're looking to develop our youth in the lower leagues is Jerome Opoku at Plymouth.

The 22-year-old spent last season at Accrington Stanley and as a confident, ball-playing centre-back, he plays in a position that's proved to be a problem one for us in recent years. Letting him hone his skills in the EFL is absolutely the right move. Today's news that he'll be joined at the Pilgrims by Timmy Abraham is further proof that we might be leaning into the loan development system more.

Our category one academy isn't producing what we need it to. It's like having a Porsche on the driveway and not using it. Perhaps we can do more to aid their development by utilising a loan model that allows our youngsters to gain experience in senior football. Then we might really be on the verge of a golden era.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2020-10-16-the-academy-conundrum-why-are-our-young-stars-not-coming-through/

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Timmy Abraham: Plymouth Argyle sign Fulham striker on loan

Timmy Abraham made four substitute appearances for Bristol Rovers last season

Plymouth have signed Fulham forward Timmy Abraham on loan until January.

Abraham, the younger brother of Chelsea and England striker Tammy, follows Fulham team-mate Jerome Opoku in making a loan switch to the League One club.

The 19-year-old has not made a senior appearance for the Cottagers but has scored twice in five EFL Trophy games for their under-23s.

Abraham had a brief spell on loan with Bristol Rovers in League One last year but failed to score in four matches.



https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54570993

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'Close to leaving': Manager says reported Fulham target is set for exit

Terence Kongolo is 'close' to completing a return to Fulham on transfer deadline day, Huddersfield Town coach Carlos Corberan has told the Yorkshire Live.

Talk about unfinished business.

A man who was restricted to just one fleeting appearance in Fulham colours during an injury-stricken loan spell is about to be handed the chance to prove, at long last, what he is all about at Craven Cottage.

The Mail reports that Kongolo is expected to complete his return to the Premier League strugglers before today's 5:00pm deadline.

What's more, Huddersfield will accept just £3 million for a player they paid a club-record £18 million for as recently as 2018.

"I think both players are close to arriving to a deal," Corberan said when asked about Kongolo and Karlan Grant, who has since secured a long-awaited £15 million move to West Brom.

"I think it's something that is not complete but both players are close to leaving the club.

"I think the situation didn't change from when we arrived here at the club because we didn't play with either player. Kongolo was injured and the club was focused on trying to make this deal (happen)."

The Dutch international, who helped Louis Van Gaal's Netherlands team reach the semi-finals of the World Cup in 2014, has played just nine minutes of football in 2020 thanks to a broken foot.

Kongolo did, however, turn down the chance to take on Napoli and Real Sociedad in the Europa League with AZ Alkmaar in favour of a second spell at Craven Cottage (AD).



https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2020/10/16/close-to-leaving-manager-says-reported-fulham-target-is-set-for-exit/

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Team News

Scott Parker delivered some frustrating news regarding Joachim Andersen in Friday's pre-match press conference.

The centre-back injured ligaments in his ankle during training, and is now set for a spell on the sidelines.

"We've had some pretty bad news with Andersen, who's obviously only just come into the football club," Parker revealed. "He's damaged his ankle in training so he'll be out for the foreseeable future.

"I wouldn't want to put an actual timescale on it but it's going to be some weeks. It's disappointing of course, because we had him for two days, we saw his quality, but we're going to be without him now for a little time.

"Hopefully we'll get him right, get him rehabbed, and get him back as part of the team."

In other injury news, it was a mixed bag with regards to Kenny Tete, Mario Lemina and Harrison Reed, who have all been missing of late.

"Tete's still struggling and will be out for a few weeks," Parker stated. "Lemina's back, he's been training now for 10 days.

"Harrison Reed is getting there, but the weekend will come too early for him."



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2020/october/Team-News/

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Sheffield Wednesday In For Premier League Defender, Face Competition

Sheffield Wednesday have slapped in a bid for Fulham centre-back Michael Hector, who is also interesting QPR, according to talkSPORT.

Having already sealed a loan deal for striker Jack Marriott from Derby County, Owls boss Garry Monk has turned his attention towards reinforcing his defensive department.

Wednesday are thin at the back, having been hit by an injury crisis, and Monk is keen on bringing in new defenders with the clock counting down on the domestic transfer window.

The Yorkshire giants are closing in on a loan swoop for Cardiff City's Aiden Flint but are also keen to land an additional centre-back.

And Wednesday are claimed to have slapped in a bid for Fulham defender Hector.

Hector spent the 2018/19 season on loan at Hillsborough from Chelsea and had a superb season in Yorkshire.

He was voted Owls' Player of the Year and Monk is eager to bring the 28-year-old back before the evening's domestic transfer deadline.

However, Sheffield Wednesday could face competition as QPR also like Hector and a move to Loftus Road would mean a stay in London for the player.

The Jamaica international has registered five appearances in all competitions for the Cottagers since the current season kicked off.



https://insidefutbol.com/2020/10/16/sheffield-wednesday-in-for-premier-league-defender-face-competition/477880/

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Huge injury blow for Fulham as three are ruled out of Sheffield United clash

Joachim Andersen has suffered ankle ligament damage and is set to be out for at least a month.

The new centre-back got injured barely a few days into training – and will have to wait until at least November to make his Fulham debut.

The most expensive Danish player ever when signed by Lyon at the start of last season was expected to feature alongside the likes of Manchester City recruit Tosin Adarabioyo at Sheffield United this weekend, but that hope has been dashed.

Head coach Scott Parker, when asked how long Andersen would be out, said: "The foreseeable future."

Meanwhile, Kenny Tete has a torn calf and is also taking his turn on the treatment table, while Sunday's clash with the Blades is a "game too soon" for midfielder Harrison Reed, Parker says.

The one ray of light is Mario Lemina's expected return to the squad.

The Southampton loanee has been 'training the full 10 days" since the start of the international break and is pencilled in for Parker and Fulham's attempt at getting a first point on the Premier League board.



https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/huge-injury-blow-for-fulham-as-three-are-ruled-out-of-sheffield-united-clash

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Sheffield United v Fulham

Scott Parker's Fulham side have won one of their past 23 Premier League away games

TEAM NEWS

Sheffield United's record signing Rhian Brewster is expected to make his debut.

John Egan's availability is being investigated after he came into close contact with a Republic of Ireland team-mate who tested positive for Covid-19.

John Fleck, Oli Burke and David McGoldrick are all doubts after getting injured on international duty.

Fulham's new recruit Joachim Andersen has damaged ankle ligaments during training and faces several weeks out.

Mario Lemina is fit but Kenny Tete and Harrison Reed remain sidelined.

LAWRO'S PREDICTION

Both of these sides have lost all four of their league games, so at least one of them will get off the mark.

I am going with Sheffield United to edge it. They deserved something from their performance against Arsenal last time out and I just think their manager, Chris Wilder, will really have them ready for this one.

Prediction: 2-0

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

    The home side has won both previous Premier League meetings, which came in the 2006-07 season.
    Fulham won 5-4 away and 3-0 at home in the most recent matches between the sides, in the 2017-18 Championship. Fulham's Ryan Sessegnon and Leon Clarke of Sheffield United scored hat-tricks in the game at Bramall Lane.

Sheffield United

    Sheffield United could lose eight league games in a row for the first time in their history.
    They have begun a top-flight season with four straight defeats for the first time since 1966.
    The Blades have only once lost their opening five league fixtures in a season, when in the second tier in 1995-96.
    Manager Chris Wilder has lost seven consecutive league matches as a manager for the first time since a run of 10 consecutive defeats with Halifax Town between February and April 2004.
    United scored their first Premier League goal of the season in their most recent match, with David McGoldrick finding the net against Arsenal in a 2-1 defeat.

Fulham

    Fulham have never started a season with five successive league defeats.
    They could lose their opening three away fixtures in a Premier League season for the second time, after 2008-09.
    Fulham's solitary victory in their past 23 Premier League away games was by 1-0 at Bournemouth in April 2019 (D2, L20).
    Scott Parker has lost 11 of his 14 Premier League matches as a head coach.
    Parker scored a 90th-minute winner in West Ham's 1-0 victory versus Chris Wilder's Oxford United at Upton Park in the League Cup second round in August 2010.



https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54496453

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Pre-Sheff Utd Press Conference

When discussing Sheffield United's position in the table, Scott Parker emphasised that we are still in the embryonic stages of the season.

A fantastic campaign saw Chris Wilder's charges finish ninth in the Premier League last season, but they currently sit alongside Fulham in the relegation zone.

"When you're in the Premier League and you're against teams of that quality, teams like Sheffield United, along with a bunch of 10 or 12 teams in this division, can lose football matches," Parker explained.

"The fine margins of this league, sometimes you can be on the end of a bad result. I think what Chris has done at Sheffield United is nothing short of incredible.

"A team and a side which did remarkably well last year, and I have no doubt they'll go and pick up some results and do well again this year.

"They have an unbelievable work ethic, they have a real understanding of how they play in terms of their structure."

And when it was put to Parker that it could be an opportunity for his side to take advantage of the opposition's form, he replied: "Maybe, but I'm sure Chris will say the same about his guys.

"Chris has been a manager a lot longer than me, but we've both been around football long enough and understand that you can lose football matches.

"Four games in is still early days, so I'm sure there's a levelness about Sheffield United. But they've also not won a game this year, so will be eager to get onto that, like we are.

"Like I constantly say, we know where we are. Of course we're all desperate and we're all working tirelessly – players, staff, everyone at the football club – to try and get the results."

He continued: "It's a big game for us, and it's exactly the same for Sheffield United. It's a big game for both teams, but what game isn't? Every game is going to be big for us this year.

"Of course there may be an extra bit on it because both teams haven't got any points on the board as of yet.

"Every game is going to be big for us this year, and this weekend's going to be no different. As always, we'll prepare and go into the game to try and win it.

"It's a tough game ahead, yes, for sure, but one which we're looking forward to."



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2020/october/Pre-Sheff-Utd-Press-Conference/

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Joachim Andersen: Fulham defender out for 'some weeks' with ankle injury

Andersen has yet to make his debut for Fulham

Fulham's new Danish signing Joachim Andersen has been ruled out for at least a few weeks with an ankle injury.

The 24-year-old central defender signed on loan from Lyon on transfer deadline day but must wait to make his debut for the Premier League's bottom side.

"He's damaged his ankle in training over the last couple of days so he will be out for the foreseeable future really," said manager Scott Parker.

"I wouldn't want to put a timescale on it but it's going to be some weeks."

The Cottagers, who were promoted via the play-offs, have conceded 11 goals in their first four games of the season and are yet to take a point.

Last month, club vice-chairman Tony Khan apologised to the club's fans for their start to the season and promised to sign new players, with the centre of the defence a particular focus - so the loss of Andersen is a further blow.

Parker added: "We're disappointed of course because we had him for two days, we see his quality but we're going to be without him for a little time and hopefully we'll get him right, get him rehabbed and get him back to being part of the team."



https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54567618

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Knockaert joins Forest on loan

French winger Anthony Knockaert has joined Nottingham Forest on loan until January, Fulham have confirmed this evening.

The former Leicester and Brighton wide man arrived at Craven Cottage from Albion on loan at the start of last season. Knockaert scored five goals in 39 appearances as Scott Parker's side were promoted from the Championship via the play-offs and Fulham paid a reported £10m to convert his loan into a permanent move. The 28 year-old has not featured in the league at all so far this season with his only Fulham appearances coming in the League Cup.

Knockaert, who had previously worked with newly appointed Forest boss Chris Hughton at Brighton, will team up with Cyrus Christie, who is also on loan at Forest, at the City Ground. The deal includes an option for the Championship club to buy Knockaert permanently.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2020/10/knockaert-joins-forest-on-loan/

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Anthony Knockaert: Fulham Winger Joins Nottingham Forest on Loan Until January

Fulham Winger Anthony Knockaert Signs for Nottingham Forest on Loan

Anthony Knockaert Links Up With Former Boss Chris Hughton

Nottingham Forest have completed the loan signing of Anthony Knockaert from Fulham. The former Brighton & Hove Albion winger joins Forest until the end of the season.

Forest have agreed a deal with Fulham for the winger at the second attempt after an initial offer was reportedly turned down.

Knockaert, 28, played under Hughton with Brighton. The experienced winger scored 15 goals in 45 league appearances as the Seagulls were promoted to the Premier League in 2016/17.

He signed for Fulham this summer but has yet to make a top-flight appearance, with all three of his appearances coming in the League Cup.

The Reds had been linked with Knockaert almost immediately after Hughton's appointment at Forest.

Liverpool winger Harry Wilson and Newcastle United duo Christian Atsu and Jacob Murphy have all been linked with a move to the City Ground.

But Hughton has finally got his man in order to bolster the squad.
Forest Continue Summer of Signings

The addition of Anthony Knockaert takes Nottingham Forest's summer signings total to 14.

Knockaert, however, is Chris Hughton's first signing since taking over from Sabri Lamouchi at the City Ground.

The Reds have added plenty of quality to their squad – including Harry Arter, Lyle Taylor, Scott McKenna and Luke Freeman.

The move could see teenage winger Alex Mighten drop out the squad. Depending on his fitness, Joe Lolley may also be transferred to the left-wing ahead of Sammy Ameobi.



https://lastwordonsports.com/football/2020/10/16/anthony-knockaert-fulham-winger-joins-nottingham-forest-on-loan-until-january/