Saturday Fulham Stuff - 24/10/20...

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Crystal Palace's Jack Butland returns positive covid-19 test – Gary Cahill also set to miss Fulham visit

New Crystal Palace goalkeeper Jack Butland has tested positive for coronavirus.

The England international signed for the Eagles last Friday but returned a positive test before he had even met his new teammates.

Butland, 27, became the second Palace player to test positive within a few days. Jordan Ayew is also self-isolating after testing positive upon his return from the international break. The Ghanaian does not have symptoms, according to the Palace boss.

Palace had also lost fellow goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey to a long-term injury, which had prompted them to move for the former Stoke City man.

Hodgson said: "We were forced to act because we know that [Hennessey] is going to be out until at least January and, even then, we don't know what the future holds for him and when he will be able to get fit again.

"So we needed to bring someone in and our misfortune continued, as no sooner did Jack come and sign than he tested positive for coronavirus.

"We haven't seen him because he needed to self-isolate and, like Jordan [Ayew], he is stuck in a hotel room in London in a very boring existence, I imagine, waiting for the magical period of time that you have to self-isolate for to pass and take another test and hopefully be cleared.

"We have only had him from afar. My only contact with him is on the phone, asking how he is feeling. He is feeling good, but very frustrated and disappointed that all he sees is four walls."

As per government guidelines, Butland will need to self-isolate for 10 days from his positive test. The Premier League requires players who test positive to return a negative before they begin training again.

The usual third-choice Stephen Henderson will deputise for the regular goalkeeper Vicente Guaita when Palace travel to Fulham tomorrow.

Hodgson will also be without Gary Cahill. The 34-year-old was the recipient of a poor tackle by the Brighton & Hove Albion defender Lewis Dunk, who was sent off for the challenge late in Sunday's 1-1 draw.

Cahill was making his first appearance since July 7.

"[Cahill's injury is] not very good, I'm afraid," Hodgson said. "It was a nasty injury so we are still assessing it. He won't be able to play at Fulham unless something miraculous happens overnight.

"I am hoping it is not one that keeps him out for weeks on end, but it is too soon after the kick he has taken to play."



https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/crystal-palaces-jack-butland-returns-positive-covid-19-test-gary-cahill-also-set-to-miss-fulham-visit/

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Go for it Parker – Fulham signing this 24-year-old African ace would be a great boost to their frontline

Why Fulham should go back in the market for Macauley Bonne

Back in July, a report from The Sun (h/t The Pink'Un) had mentioned Fulham among a host of clubs to be credited with an interest in Macauley Bonne, who was then plying his trade with Charlton Athletic.

Cardiff City and Burnley were also believed to be in the race to sign the 24-year-old but nothing came of those rumours. The Zimbabwean international was eventually offered an escape route by QPR to stay in the Championship following Charlton's relegation to the third-tier last season.

Profile

Macauley Bonne spent time in the youth ranks of Ipswich Town and Norwich City before completing his development at Colchester United, where he also had his first taste of professional football.

However, he spent time on loan at Woking and Lincoln City in the National League after failing to make much of an impression in League One and League Two.

Bonne then earned a permanent move to Leyton Orient in the fifth-tier in the summer of 2017. He caught the eye with his astonishing 23-goal haul during the 2018-19 campaign as the O's secured promotion back to the Football League system.

Bonne was eventually snapped up by newly-promoted Championship club Charlton Athletic last summer. and went on to enjoy an impressive breakthrough season in the English second-tier. The Zimbabwean hitman bagged 11 goals and 2 assists in league 33 appearances last term, but it wasn't enough to save the Addicks from relegation.

The 24-year-old has hit the ground running this term as well following his move to QPR, scoring the injury-time equaliser to secure a 1-1 draw away at Sheffield Wednesday.

Bonne would add more depth and quality to Fulham's attack

Fulham's transfer activity in the summer window was focused largely on improving the defence and midfield, with Ademola Lookman being the only new attacker to come through the door on loan from RB Leipzig. The Cottagers didn't really look too keen to add to their striking ranks, which is pretty understandable given the presence of a lethal weapon like Aleksandar Mitrovic in front of goal.

The Serb has already hit the ground running in the Premier League this season but the lack of quality depth beyond him could well come back to haunt Scott Parker' side later in the campaign. Mitrovic also has a habit of tailing off in patches, meaning Fulham need a reliable alternative up top to reduce the dependence on their talismanic hitman.

Aboubakar Kamara and Bobby Reid, though not specialist No.9s by trade, are somewhat capable of slotting into Mitrovic's shoes. But neither player has a good record in the Premier League. Suffice to say, the Cottagers ideally need another striker to compete for places in the ranks.

To that end, Fulham making a renewed attempt to sign Macauley Bonne in January would hand a much-needed boost to their attack midway through the campaign. The 24-year-old proved his mettle by scoring goals consistently for a struggling side in the Championship last season and has continued to fire on all cylinders this term as well.

Bonne's rich vein of form in the Championship represents a massive step-up for a player who was plying his trade in non-league football just a couple of seasons ago. The Zimbabwean has really come of age over the past 12 months.

Verdict

Macauley Bonne remains an unproven striker at the Premier League level. But his performances in the second-tier suggest that he's more than capable of thriving in the top-flight. Fulham already have Mitrovic as their main man in front of goal and the Zimbabwean certainly ticks the box as an understudy in that role.

The 24-year-old still has his best years ahead of him and Fulham making a renewed attempt to sign him in January could well hand a boost to their attack.



https://www.mediareferee.com/2020/10/24/go-for-it-parker-fulham-signing-this-24-year-old-african-ace-would-be-a-great-boost-to-their-frontline/

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Nottingham Forest fans hail Anthony Knockaert after debut performance

Nottingham Forest recorded a 1-1 draw on Friday night against bitter rivals Derby County – and some of the club's fans on Twitter were blown away by the debut performance of their new signing Anthony Knockaert.

Chris Hughton's side had to come from behind to earn a point in the Championship, as Martyn Waghorn put visitors Derby ahead with his stunning free-kick in the first-half.

It was a much improved display in the second period by Forest at the City Ground and Lyle Tyler netted a close-range finish in the 64th minute.

They now have five points from their opening seven league matches, but they remain unbeaten since Hughton took charge as manager

A selection of Forest supporters on social media believe that Knockaert made such a difference on his debut for the club and many are already calling for the club to sign him on a permanent basis.

Knockaert recently joined on loan from Fulham until January and he was used as a half-time substitute to replace Lewis Grabban.

The 28-year-old winger has made himself an instant favourite with supporters after injecting some extra attacking intent against Derby and it was his cross that lead to the team's equaliser.

He's a skilful left-footer that has been promoted from the Championship on three occasions with three separate clubs, enjoying success with Leicester City, Brighton and Fulham.



https://tbrfootball.com/nottingham-forest-fans-hail-anthony-knockaert-after-debut-performance/

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Fulham v Crystal Palace: Can Cottagers earn first win?

After securing their first point of the season in a 1-1 draw with Sheffield United last weekend, bottom side Fulham will now target their first win.

Crystal Palace are looking for their first victory in four matches.

Team news

Fulham's Harrison Reed could be in contention after recovering from a knock, but Joachim Andersen (foot), Kenny Tete (calf) and Terence Kongolo (foot) remain sidelined.

Roy Hodgson is unable to call on Gary Cahill (shin) and Jordan Ayew (COVID-19), while Jack Butland is also self-isolating following a positive test.

Did you know?

There is a gap of 33 years and 65 days between Scott Parker and Roy Hodgson, the second-biggest between two English managers for a Premier League match after the 35 years and 38 days that separated Hodgson and Swansea City's Leon Britton in December 2017.

Fulham have lost 20 of their last 23 PL London derbies. But, of the three matches where they have avoided defeat, two have been against Crystal Palace.

Palace are looking to win three consecutive league matches against Fulham for the first time since October 1930, after triumphing 2-0 in both meetings during the 2018/19 season.

Wilfried Zaha has scored four goals in his five Premier League appearances this season, as many as he netted in 38 appearances last term.

Match officials

Referee: Graham Scott. Assistants: Derek Eaton, Timothy Wood. Fourth official: Dean Whitestone. VAR: Jarred Gillett. Assistant VAR: Peter Kirkup.



https://www.premierleague.com/news/1868789

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'I felt it was paramount I played a lot of football this season': Ruben Loftus-Cheek reveals he approached Frank Lampard about making loan move to Fulham but insists he still sees his future at Chelsea

    Ruben Loftus-Cheek fell down the pecking order at Chelsea following his injury
    An Achilles problem kept him out for 13 months and has restricted his game time
    The midfielder did start the win at Brighton but felt he needed regular minutes
    He therefore initiated talks with Frank Lampard before joining Fulham on loan

Ruben Loftus-Cheek has revealed he initiated talks with Frank Lampard about leaving Chelsea on loan for west London rivals Fulham.

The midfielder had fallen down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge after suffering an Achilles injury in April last year that kept him out for 13 months, leading him to join Scott Parker's men in the summer.

The England international played just more than an hour for the Blues in their win at Brighton in their opening game of the new Premier League season, but with rising competition after the club spent £220million in the summer, he sought a move away to regain his confidence.


Loftus-Cheek joined Fulham in the summer after falling down the pecking order at Chelsea

'We had an honest conversation. I was the one who initiated it,' Loftus-Cheek told The Sun.

'I felt like it was paramount that I played a lot of football this season.

'With the strength in depth at Chelsea and how I was feeling, I was not sure being out for so long that when I had the opportunity that I could play fantastically and hold down a place in the starting XI.

'I was not 100 per cent I could do that, because I need to build my confidence back up.

'That was basically the theme of the chat. The gaffer agreed on that and things went on from there.'

Loftus-Cheek was restricted to nine games for Chelsea in the 2019-20 season following his return from his serious injury, of which only two were starts, having recorded 10 goals and five assists from 40 appearances the season before.

The 24-year-old also signed a new five-year deal with Chelsea in July 2019, committing himself to the club until 2024.

And the midfielder insisted he has no intentions of breaking that agreement permanently anytime soon, adding: 'I still see my future at Chelsea.

'I believe in my ability 100 per cent. This is obviously not a permanent move [to Fulham].

'This is a platform for me to go and express myself and find that form that was showing a couple of seasons ago.

'I believe in my ability, and we will see where that takes me.'



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8874915/Ruben-Loftus-Cheek-reveals-approached-Frank-Lampard-making-loan-Fulham.html

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Hodgson reveals how Premier League has changed between Fulham and Palace jobs

It's only been 10 years since Roy Hodgson departed Fulham after one of the greatest spells in the club's history.

Scott Parker was plying his trade at West Ham United and Hodgson had four managerial roles yet to play in front of him.

In the time since, Parker has progressed from player to manager and now occupies Hodgson's former role: leading Fulham in the Premier League.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference before returning to Craven Cottage, Hodgson was asked to reflect on how the job has changed at a top-flight club since leaving Fulham a decade ago.

"Has the job become tougher?" he asked rhetorically. "Frankly, I think it has and I think it's become tougher for two reasons. First of all, I think the quality of the Premier League has improved. I think it improves year by year; it gets stronger and stronger.

"For the bulk of us who are not eyeing Champions League places, the act of survival becomes a tougher one to pull off every year because all the teams around you are getting stronger, investing in players and working harder at their game.

"You never meet a disorganised team. You never meet a team that will lay down and enable you to run all over them - every game in this league is a fight but that's what makes the league so good.

"No one really honestly suggests that a team like ours is a better team than Liverpool or Manchester City, for example, but we are still able to compete with them and that goes not just for us, but for many other teams in a similar position to us. It's got harder and harder.

"The second reason is the pressure has got greater. There's no doubt about that. The need to stay in this league with all this pressure on you gets greater too. Everyone realises if you're unlucky enough to get relegated, getting back up again could be a much more arduous task than maybe it looked 10 or 15 years ago.

"There's no doubt in my opinion that the job gets more and more difficult every year and for the young managers coming into the game at that level - and there aren't that many young ones in actual fact these days - but for the young ones coming in, they really do need to be well prepared for the challenges they're going to face.

"Ideally they'd have someone alongside them or someone in the club that can help them keep some sense of perspective, because that's not an easy thing to keep at any time. Certainly the Premier League is not a very good place to work if you have a poor perspective on your life at any given point."



https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/2020/october/roy-hodgson-reveals-how-management-has-changed-between-fulham-and-crystal-palace-roles/

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