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Sunday Fulham Stuff - 31/01/21...

Started by WhiteJC, January 31, 2021, 09:41:16 AM

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WhiteJC

Results


Saturday
Everton
0-2
Newcastle
Palace
1-0
Wolves
Man City
1-0
Sheff Utd
West Brom
2-2
Fulham
Arsenal
0-0
Man Utd
Southampton
0-1
Villa

WhiteJC

West Bromwich Albion 2-2 Fulham

West Bromwich Albion boss Sam Allardyce says his side playing "too much complex football" was the reason they were so poor in the first half of the draw against fellow strugglers Fulham.

The Cottagers dominated the first period and looked on course for a first top-flight win since 30 November thanks to Bobby Decordova-Reid's early goal.

However, a change of system and the introduction of new loan striker Mbaye Diagne helped the Baggies engineer a complete turnaround after the break.

"Playing a more simple game of football with better quality made life extremely difficult for Fulham," Allardyce said.

"We were playing too much complex football. We kept giving the ball back to Fulham instead of to our players. We just simplified our game. We said 'we have brought a big man from Galatasaray. I want you to play off him - off his feet or chest'.

"We haven't had a target man of his type. I am surprised he arrived here from Galatasaray to take up the fight. It is a great credit to the man that he has actually looked at the table and said 'yes I will come and fight with you'.

"I have struggled to find anybody that has wanted to do that in the whole of January."

Kyle Bartley's equaliser - the centre-back finishing impressively from close range - two minutes after the break shifted the momentum towards the Baggies and Matheus Pereira flicked in a cross from Diagne to give the home side the lead.

However Ivan Cavaleiro headed in an inviting cross from fellow substitute Harrison Reed to earn the visitors a point.

The result leaves Fulham 18th in the table, while West Brom - who gained their first point at home since Allardyce took charge in December - are in 19th, two points further back.

Mixed emotions for Allardyce
The result is likely to have mixed emotions for Allardyce, who had pinpointed this game against another team in the relegation places as one the Baggies needed to win.

His side were fortunate to be only one goal behind at half time but, having tweaked tactics and personnel to take control after the break, he will be frustrated they could not hold out for three points.

The Baggies' new boss will also surely be concerned that the organisational and defensive principles for which he is renowned have yet to be witnessed on the pitch.

In his eight matches at the helm West Brom have taken five points from the 24 available - and conceded 24 goals at an average of three per game.

After a demoralising 5-0 loss to Manchester City at home on Tuesday, the manner in which they fell behind after 10 minutes will have infuriated the former England boss.

Conor Gallagher and Dara O'Shea failed to apply any pressure as Ademola Lookman drifted a pass into Aleksandar Mitrovic and Kieran Gibbs switched off as the Serbia striker fed the ball inside him for Decordova-Reid to apply a cool finish.

More pleasing, though, was his team's response after what was presumably a half-time rocket from Allardyce as they fought for every ball and squeezed mistakes out of Fulham.

That enthusiasm and work-rate led directly to defender Bartley's well-taken equaliser while Diagne made a promising debut, unsettling the visiting defenders when he was introduced and teeing up Pereira to put West Brom in front.

Fulham rue missed chances
It must have been an equally bewildering afternoon for Fulham and their manager Scott Parker, who will be wondering what his side have to do to end a winless run that now stands at 10 Premier League matches.

Decordova-Reid's 10th-minute goal provided the perfect platform to change that statistic but they were unable to build on it as a result of their profligacy in front of goal.

Former Bristol City winger Decordova-Reid was unfortunate to see an effort to double Fulham's lead come back off the left post after being played through by Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

But he, Lookman and Loftus-Cheek all had other chances to convert when well-placed to put the Cottagers out of sight by the interval.

Instead, they found themselves dealing with a rejuvenated and more abrasive home side after Bartley equalised.

Defenders Joachim Andersen and Tosin Adarabioyo suddenly found themselves under much more pressure - with a mark of West Brom's emphasis after striker Diagne came on being the fact Tosin was involved in more aerial duels (15) than any other player.

Parker will take some comfort from their own recovery, though - and both Mitrovic and Cavaleiro spurned late opportunities to score a winner.

'I want to build on that' - what they said
West Brom manager Sam Allardyce speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live: "With our defensive frailties we needed three goals but we didn't get them. We made a magnificent effort to get the third [goal] but two should have been enough.

"We have showed we can create more chances than I have seen since I have been here. I want to build on that."

Fulham manager Scott Parker: "The game should have been out of sight at half time. We were fantastic in the first half and they had to make changes 20 minutes into the game.

"We had some big chances and it should have been done. We didn't do well enough in the first 15 minutes of the second half but the substitutes came on and did very well.

"We're disappointed it's not three points but we'll keep moving. It's a useful point but there were big chances to kill the game off and we're not on the right side of the big moments. We're playing some good football but you need to put those moments away. It should have been 3-0 or 4-0 at half time."

Pereira's growing influence - the stats
    Since Sam Allardyce took charge of West Brom, Matheus Pereira has had a direct hand in five of the Baggies' seven goals in the top flight, netting four times and assisting another.
    Fulham are now without a win in their last 10 Premier League games (D7 L3) - only once before in the competition's history have they endured a longer such run (12 between November 2007 and January 2008).
    West Brom have taken five points from Allardyce's eight Premier League games in charge (W1 D2 L5), with only Fulham (4), Newcastle (4) and Wolves (3) picking up fewer since his first match as Baggies boss.
    No side has conceded more home goals (19) under a specific manager in the Premier League this season than West Brom have under Allardyce, despite this being just the Baggies' fifth game at the Hawthorns under him.
    Only in 2017-18 (21) has Bobby Decordova-Reid scored more goals in all competitions in a single campaign than the seven he has netted this season for Fulham, with his opener surpassing his total for last season in 25 fewer appearances (six in 47).
    Kyle Bartley's equaliser for West Brom ended a run of 466 minutes and 22 goals without a Baggies reply at the Hawthorns since Conor Gallagher netted against Crystal Palace back in December.

What's next?
West Brom travel to play Sheffield United in the Premier League on Tuesday, 2 February (18:00 GMT). Fulham host Leicester City in their next top-flight game on Wednesday, 3 February (18:00 GMT).



https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55769170

WhiteJC

Post-West Brom Press Conference

Scott Parker rued his side's fortune in our 2-2 draw at West Bromwich Albion, pointing to the fact the game should've been wrapped up at half-time.

Two second half goals pegged Fulham back and it needed an Ivan Cavaleiro header to salvage a point in the Midlands.

"The game should be out of sight at half-time," he said. "I thought we were fantastic in the first half, we moved the ball well. They had to make changes after 20 minutes. We had some big chances, the game should be done at the interval.

"Second half we didn't do well enough when you're under pressure from long throws. Our subs came on and did very well, we have to deal with a point. We're disappointed it's not three but we keep moving.

"I realise big chances were there to kill this game off. We weren't on the right side of those moments today. We played some good football, but you need to put those moments away. That was the main factor."

Parker's substitutions changed the flow of the game, with Harrison Reed and Cavaleiro combining brilliantly for the second goal.

"We looked a little bit flat second half," he admitted. "We needed a bit of a lift. We changed our shape slightly and it worked well.

"There's 18 games left in the season and there's still a long way to go. A lot of strange results are around and we'll keep pushing with a team moving in the right direction."



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2021/january/Post-West-Brom-Press-Conference/


WhiteJC

West Brom new boy has instant impact but Fulham clash ends in thrilling draw

New West Brom striker Mbaye Diagne notched an assist on his debut as the Baggies drew 2-2 with Fulham in a key relegation battle at the Hawthorns.

Bobby Decordova-Reid gave the visitors a 10th-minute lead after Fulham opened West Brom up.

Ademola Lookman's searching pass found Aleksandar Mitrovic who held the ball up and slipped in his strike partner to score.

Kyle Bartley hauled Albion level two minutes after half time when Fulham switched off and he steered in Matheus Pereira's cross.

Pereira then latched home the Baggies' second, finishing from new signing Diagne's low cross.

However, Scott Parker's visitors were not done there. Substitutes Harrison Reed and Ivan Cavaliero combined, the latter heading in at the far post after a deep cross.

Fulham are now winless in 10 Premier League games and sit four points from safety, with Albion a further two points behind.

A draw did little for either side's survival hopes and Baggies boss Sam Allardyce had underlined the need for four points from the next two games – with Albion going to rock-bottom Sheffield United on Tuesday.

He had locked them in the dressing room for a post-match inquest following the midweek thumping by Manchester City and the hosts needed an instant response.

Yet they suffered a nightmare start and were behind after 10 minutes.

Ademola Lookman's searching pass found Mitrovic and he held the ball up before slipping the unmarked Decordova-Reid in to lash past Sam Johnstone.

Two minutes later Johnstone saved from Ruben Loftus-Cheek as the flustered Baggies threatened to sink without a trace.

Fulham had not won since November but sliced Albion open at will and it should have been 2-0 after 19 minutes when Mitrovic and Decordova-Reid combined again.

Mitrovic's simple pass split the Baggies defence for Decordova-Reid to leave Kieran Gibbs floundering and hit the post with just Johnstone to beat.

Allardyce makes early sub
Fulham's dominance forced Allardyce's hand and he replaced defender Dara O'Shea with striker Karlan Grant after just 24 minutes, although it made little instant impact.

Loftus-Cheek shot over and only Semi Ajayi's late intervention put Lookman off and allowed Johnstone to save when the Baggies were left wide open again.

There was no cohesion or steel to the hosts, with Fulham often allowed the freedom of The Hawthorns.

Sloppy Albion were lucky to only be a goal behind and Decordova-Reid skied over from the edge of the box as the Cottagers continued to create chances.

Fulham fully deserved their lead – a weak Grant effort the Baggies' only shot in the first half – but Albion levelled out of the blue two minutes after the break.

Pereira and Grant combined and Pereira's cross clipped Ola Aina for Bartley to steer in a first-time finish from six yards – the first goal at home under Allardyce to end a barren run of 466 minutes at The Hawthorns.

Albion had re-emerged refreshed – with intensity as they pressed Fulham back – and Pereira dragged wide from 25 yards.

It was a total contrast to the first half and the Baggies went ahead in the 66th minute.

Mbaye Diagne had been thrown on at the break after completing his loan move from Galatasaray on Friday and offered much-needed presence up front.

And the striker turned supplier when he went free down the right and Pereira reached his low cross before Aina to turn past Alphonse Areola from six yards.

Yet the lead only lasted 11 minutes when Reed bent in a brilliant cross and fellow substitute Cavaleiro's diving header levelled.

Johnstone gathered Mitrovic's header soon after but neither side found a late winner.



https://www.teamtalk.com/news/mbaye-diagne-assist-west-brom-2-2-fulham

WhiteJC

West Brom 2-2 Fulham: Ivan Cavaleiro rescues point in thrilling clash between relegation rivals


ubs combine: Ivan Cavaleiro celebrates with Harrison Reed after the duo combined to score Fulham's equaliser / POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Scott Parker had two substitutes to thank for rescuing a point for Fulham in Saturday's crucial meeting with Premier League relegation rivals West Brom.

Ivan Cavaleiro finished fellow replacement Harrison Reed's excellent right-wing cross with 13 minutes remaining at The Hawthorns after the Baggies had fought back from behind to engineer an impressive second-half turnaround.

Fulham controlled the opening 45 minutes in a key clash between the teams currently occupying 18th and 19th positions in the top-flight and deservedly led at the break courtesy of Bobby Decordova-Reid's 10th-minute strike.

However, Parker's side looked set to rue not making more of their first-half dominance as West Brom came out for the second period with renewed purpose and quickly equalised as centre-back Kyle Bartley turned home Matheus Pereira's cross.

Pereira then put Sam Allardyce's men in front with 25 minutes remaining, the Brazilian finishing from close range after being teed up by new signing Mbaye Diagne, who was introduced for his debut at half-time after only joining on loan from Turkish giants Galatasaray on Friday.

Momentum continued to shift back and fourth in an entertaining showdown that looked destined to produce a winning goal after Reed and Cavaleiro's crucial link-up, but West Brom goalkeper Sam Johnstone showed strong reflexes to repel Aleksandar Mitrovic's late header.

The result leaves Fulham 18th and now four points behind 17th-placed Brighton, who host Tottenham at Amex Stadium on Sunday.

West Brom - who have played a game more than Fulham - remain second from bottom and six points adrift of safety.



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/west-brom-vs-fulham-result-2021-premier-league-ivan-cavaleiro-b918047.html

WhiteJC

Fulham player ratings as Aleksandar Mitrovic & Ruben Loftus-Cheek show signs of hope

The Whites will be disappointed not to come away with three points.

Alphonse Areola

The Frenchman had just one tame effort to save in the first half and was left helpless for West Brom's goals. 6.

Bobby De Cordova-Reid

Good to see the versatile back on the right and he wasted little time showing how clinical he can be with his 10th minute strike. Could have double his tally later in the first half. Showed some defensive tenacity in the second half but was sacrificed as Scott Parker looked for Fulham to come from behind. 7.

Ola Aina

Was unable to get front of Matheus Pereira for West Brom's second as he was left to guard two men. 6.

Joachim Andersen

Once again showed his hardiness to match his class against Callum Robinson. Got left flatfooted when Pereira's cross was deflected as Kyle Bartley equalised. 6.

Tosin Adarabioyo

A quiet performance with a couple of less than convincing clearances in the second period. 5.

Antonee Robinson

Showed how much pace he offers going forward but not quite up to the standard he showed before the suspension. 5.

Mario Lemina

A disruptive force in the centre of the field and show some nice turns. Too often he lost the ball as a result however. 6.

Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa

A consistent presence in the midfield going forwards and defending. 6.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek

Looked a different player feeding off Aleksandar Mitrovic and with some freedom to attack. Perhaps slightly too keen for a shot but drew a number of fouls and set the tone going forwards. 8.

Ademola Lookman

Played a great ball into Mitrovic in the build up to Fulham's opening goal but the Cottagers struggled to use him as outlet in the second period. 6.

Aleksandar Mitrovic

The Serbian made all the difference. His presence allowed Fulham's attacking play to sing as they looked more connected than perhaps any other time this season. Showed great awareness and composure to play in De Cordova-Reid for his goal and looked to have a great relationship with Loftus-Cheek in the opening half. The Whites couldn't find him in the second period. 7.

Substitutes

Harrison Reed: Unfortunate not to start in many respects but delivered an incredible ball for Ivan Cavaleiro to head in. 7.

Ivan Cavaleiro: Great finish from Reed's delivery and looked to create some chances. 7.

Kenny Tete: Showed some good deliveries from the right when he entered the fray. 6.



https://www.football.london/fulham-fc/wba-vs-fulham-player-ratings-19735147


WhiteJC

Ivan Cavaleiro rescues point for Fulham in thriller at West Brom

West Brom 2-2 Fulham: The Baggies led in the second half through Matheus Pereira but neither side could force a winner to boost their hopes of survival

Ivan Cavaleiro snatched a point for Fulham in a thrilling draw at relegation rivals West Brom.

The substitute struck within five minutes of coming off the bench to rescue a 2-2 draw.

Kyle Bartley and Matheus Pereira had turned the game in the second half after the Baggies looked doomed following a wretched start.

Bobby Decordova-Reid's opener helped the Cottagers dominate before the break with the striker also hitting the post.

But Scott Parker's side are now winless in 10 Premier League games and sit four points from safety, with Albion a further two points behind.

A draw did little for either side's survival hopes and Baggies boss Sam Allardyce had underlined the need for four points from the next two games - with Albion going to rock-bottom Sheffield United on Tuesday.

He had locked them in the dressing room for a post-match inquest following the midweek thumping by Manchester City and the hosts needed an instant response.

Yet they suffered a nightmare start and were behind after 10 minutes.

Ademola Lookman's searching pass found Aleksandar Mitrovic and he held the ball up before slipping the unmarked Decordova-Reid in to lash past Sam Johnstone.

Two minutes later Johnstone saved from Ruben Loftus-Cheek as the flustered Baggies threatened to sink without a trace.

Fulham had not won since November but sliced Albion open at will and it should have been 2-0 after 19 minutes when Mitrovic and Decordova-Reid combined again.

Mitrovic's simple pass split the Baggies defence for Decordova-Reid to leave Kieran Gibbs floundering and hit the post with just Johnstone to beat.

Fulham's dominance forced Allardyce's hand and he replaced defender Dara O'Shea with striker Karlan Grant after just 24 minutes, although it made little instant impact.

Loftus-Cheek shot over and only Semi Ajayi's late intervention put Lookman off and allowed Johnstone to save when the Baggies were left wide open again.

There was no cohesion or steel to the hosts, with Fulham often allowed the freedom of The Hawthorns.

Sloppy Albion were lucky to only be a goal behind and Decordova-Reid skied over from the edge of the box as the Cottagers continued to create chances.

Fulham fully deserved their lead - a weak Grant effort the Baggies' only shot in the first half - but Albion levelled out of the blue two minutes after the break.

Pereira and Grant combined and Pereira's cross clipped Ola Aina for Bartley to steer in a first-time finish from six yards - the first goal at home under Allardyce to end a barren run of 466 minutes at The Hawthorns.

Albion had re-emerged refreshed - with intensity as they pressed Fulham back - and Pereira dragged wide from 25 yards.

It was a total contrast to the first half and the Baggies went ahead in the 66th minute.

Mbaye Diagne had been thrown on at the break after completing his loan move from Galatasaray on Friday and offered much-needed presence up front.

And the striker turned supplier when he went free down the right and Pereira reached his low cross before Aina to turn past Alphonse Areola from six yards.

Yet the lead only lasted 11 minutes when Harrison Reed bent in a brilliant cross and fellow substitute Cavaleiro's diving header levelled.

Johnstone gathered Mitrovic's header soon after but neither side found a late winner.

PA



https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/west-brom/vs-fulham-result-final-score-b1795219.html

WhiteJC

Fulham fritter away first-half dominance

Ivan Cavaleiro's header might have rescued a point in this relegation battle, but Fulham will be left to reflect on just why the substitute's late intervention was necessary after Scott Parker's side had completely dominated the first half at West Brom. That they only led by Bobby Decordova-Reid's early strike at half-time was a cause for concern, having squandered several presentable opportunities to increase their lead, and the visitors were punished for their prolifigacy when Kyle Bartley took just second half minutes to level matters. Matheus Pereira guided the Baggies in front after an impressive cameo from debutante Mbaye Diagne and, although Cavaleiro secured a seventh draw in Fulham's last ten fixtures, it didn't feel like enough to bolster their survival hopes.

Newcastle's surprise triumph at Goodison Park eased some of the pressure on Steve Bruce earlier and Fulham, without a league win since early November, are still four points from safety. The prospect of not picking three points would not have been on their radar given how easily they seemed to overwhelm Sam Allardyce's side from the outside. Aleksandar Mitrovic, handed his first start in four league games, led the line with relish and had a hand in a fine team move for the opening. The Serbian's close control and pass from Ademola Lookman's forward ball was sublime allowing Decordova-Reid, rampaging forward from right wing-back, to stroke his sixth of the season past Sam Johnstone.

Mitrovic was posing serious problems for Albion's back three – another lay-off sent Ruben Loftus-Cheek away down the left but he couldn't curl a finish beyond Johnstone. The Chelsea loanee then turned provider, slipping a lovely reverse-ball through to present Decordova-Reid with an almost identical chance to the one he had converted eight minutes earlier. This time he struck the inside of the far post and the ball bounced away to safety. It was to prove a pivotal moment. Fulham had further opportunities, Loftus-Cheek firing over, and Lookman forcing a scrambling save from Johnstone as he spun in the box whilst being manhandled by Bartley, but nothing quite as clear as that.

It took West Brom 41 minutes to register a shot on target with Karlan Grant, introduced as a replacement for Daragh O'Shea midway through the first half, swivelling to shoot from the edge of the box, but his powerpuff finish was easily fielded by Alphonse Areola. The hosts were clearly second best, which made the swiftness of their second half revival all the more surprising. Allardyce clearly urged his team to up the intensity and sending on Diagne, who had only arrived in the Midlands last night after completing a loan move from Galatasaray, brought an immediate reward as he put Joachim Andersen under the kind of pressure that had been sorely lacking – chasing down a loose ball by the byline.

Albion had the ball high up the field and worked a position for the previously peripheral Pereira to whip a cross it the box. There was an element of fortune about the way it reached Bartley, a deflection off Ola Aina totally wrongfooting Andersen, but the Baggies centre half improvised a fine finish to equalise. That galvanised the Baggies and they were now the more progressive side with Diagne fashioning an opening for Pereira, who nearly found the target from distance.

Fulham were far from the composed side that had ended the first period in charge and worse was to follow. Diagne's dynamism led to a second goal when the Senegalese forward drove down the right flank and sent a low cross into the centre. Pereira gambled, reaching the near post ahead of Aina and an instinctive left-footed finish, having taken a nick off the Nigerian international, found the far corner. Bartley might have made it three when he made the most of confusion following a long-throw to poke an effort agonisingly wide after linking up with Semi Ajayi.

Parker sent on Harrison Reed and Cavaleiro in an attempt to add more energy to what had become a listless Fulham display. The visitors had been on the back foot for long periods since going behind, with only a speculative Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa effort troubling Johnstone. But the pair of substitutes combined to create a fine equaliser: Reed, wide on the right, whipped in a delicious cross to the far post, where Cavaleiro's excellent diving header set up a grandstand finale.

Neither side could find a late winner – Mitrovic coming closest when his downward header from a corner was smartly saved by Johnstone – and, even if Parker had refused to accept this was your classical relegation six-pointer, a return of two points from recent trips to Brighton and the Hawthorns leaves the Whites with an awful lot to do if they are going to escape a third relegation from the top flight in seven seasons.

WEST BROMWICH ALBION (3-4-2-1): Johnstone; Bartley, O'Shea (Grant 23), Ajayi; Furlong, Gibbs, Gallagher, Livermore (Phillips 83); Snodgrass, Pereira; C. Robinson (Diagne 45). Subs (not used): Button, Ivanovic, Peltier, Townsend, Sawyers, Phillips, Robson-Kanu, Grant, Diagne.

BOOKED: Bartley.

GOALS: Bartley (47), Pereira (66).

FULHAM (3-4-3): Areola; Aina (Tete 81), Andersen, Adarabioyo; Decordova-Reid (Cavaleiro 72), A. Robinson, Lemina (Reed 72), Anguissa; Loftus-Cheek, Lookman, Mitrovic. Subs (not used): Rodak, Hector, Ream, Onomah, Kebano, Kamara.

GOALS: Decordova-Reid (10), Cavaleiro (77).

REFEREE: Anthony Taylor (Lancashire).

VIDEO ASSISTANT REFEREE: Peter Bankes (Merseyside).



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2021/01/fulham-fritter-away-first-half-dominance/

WhiteJC

Parker not expecting late striker signing

Scott Parker has reiterated that he does not believe Fulham will bring in a striker before Monday's transfer deadline.

Parker has recently suggested the club are unlikely to make another signing in the coming days.

And the head coach indicated after the 2-2 draw at West Brom that the Fulham hierarchy have told him there will not be a late deal to bolster his limited attacking options.

Asked if he expects a striker to arrive, Parker said: "I don't think so. I'm being told that won't be the case.

"The team have worked very hard and we'll continue to do that. We'll keep pushing."

Fulham's lack of a cutting edge was certainly evident at The Hawthorns.

Ivan Cavaleiro, who has operated as a makeshift striker, equalised after coming off the bench to earn the Whites a potentially crucial point in their battle to stay up.

But they missed chances during a dominant first-half spell after Bobby Decordova-Reid had put them ahead – and then found themselves behind midway through the second half.

"The game should have been out of sight by half-time," Parker admitted.

"We had some big, big chances and the game should be done at half-time.

"I realise and the players realise that we had big chances – chances to really kill this game off.

"We're playing some very good football but you need to put them moments away. We've not been quite good enough in them moments.

"You can't play any better than we did in the first half. I'm not over-exaggerating, that game should be three or four nil at half-time.

"The chances we've had we've just not been able to convert. You hope that going's going to turn. The way it will turn is to keep working.

"In the end we get out of it with a point. Disappointed it's not three, but we go again. We keep moving.

"We'll keep pushing and keep going. This is a team in the right direction."



https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/fulham-chiefs-have-told-parker-he-cant-bring-in-striker


WhiteJC

Baggies burst Fulham's survival bid

As the players walked out to Liquidator, a 1969 Harry J. All Stars classic used by many football clubs, both sides knew that anything less than a win would likely liquidate their hopes of survival. Fulham figures have insisted that the 'wins are coming' recently and the trip to West Brom appeared to be a perfect opportunity to pick up a third league victory. The disappointing draw means the Whites have collected just two points from two meetings with our rivals in the bottom four in what looked like a pivotal week. It is difficult to avoid the conclusion that such a return could prove terminal to our survival hopes.

Scott Parker's side started encouragingly on a worn and snowy surface, utilising the now familiar 5-2-3 system, with a few subtle tweaks. It might be a stretch to suggest he'd been reading my thoughts, but the restoration of Aleksandar Mitrovic to the starting line-up chimed with the overwhelming sentiment post-Brighton and utilising the Serbian as a false nine came to fruition fantastically. He dropped deep, dragging West Brom defenders out of position, and creating space for Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Fulham's inside forwards to exploit the space behind the home defence – as Bobby Decordova-Reid did devastatingly early on.

Out of possession, Mitrovic pressed Albion's back line, often winning the ball high up the pitch. Mitrovic was arguably the catalyst for Fulham's dominant start, as yellow shirts flooded forward to great effect. But the visitors were frustratingly unable to turn their dominance into goals. The outcome would probably have been very different if Decordova-Reid's second shot had gone in rather than striking the post – and, despite eight shots on goal, Fulham had the slenderest of leads at the interval. For all their flawless football, there's no substitute for ruthlessness in the final third, something Albion proved at the start of the second half.

After what must have been a lively team-talk, Sam Allardyce introduced his new centre-forward Mbaye Diagne. The Senegalese international, signed on loan from Galatasaray only last night, seems like the sort of option this Fulham side would love, with his mixture of size, strength and speed. Whilst he did not score himself, he immediately disrupted the Fulham backline, who had a largely serene first period, and Kyle Bartley grabbed an equaliser just two minutes after half time.

Heads definitely dropped at this point, with Fulham quickly slipping behind after Diagne's dart down the read led to Matheus Pereira poking in from close range. A defeat looked on the cards until Parker shuffled his deck, bringing on Harrison Reed and Ivan Cavaleiro for the final quarter. The Portugese winger scored a fine diving header – from a lovely Reed cross – to consolidate Fulham's position as the Premier League's draw specialists. The point doesn't do much to help either start and with the Whites unlikely to sign a striker in what remains of the transfer window, the future looks rather bleak.

You can't lay too much of the blame at Parker's door. He has done incredibly well to make Fulham competitive at a higher level after such a shambolic start and reintroducing Mitrovic removes the one major concern about his team selection. The hierarchy's reluctance to bolster his attacking options seems strange and Parker appears resigned to making the best of what he has.

What did you think of the game? How can Fulham improve?



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2021/01/baggies-burst-fulhams-survival-bid/

WhiteJC

Fulham should have been 'out of sight,' says Parker

Scott Parker was disappointed that his side could only draw at West Brom this afternoon – saying Fulham should have been 'out of sight' after dominating the first half at the Hawthorns.

Fulham held only a slender lead at half-time courtesy of Bobby Decordova-Reid's early goal, but spurned a succession of openings to increase their lead. Parker bemoaned their failure to kill off the contest after the hosts roared back to lead through second half strikes from Kyle Bartley and Matheus Pereira, with Ivan Cavaleiro rescuing a point for the Whites with a diving header. The Cottagers' boss told his post-match press conference:

The game should be out of sight at half-time. I thought we were fantastic in the first half, we moved the ball well. They had to make changes after 20 minutes. We had some big chances, the game should be done at the interval. I realise big chances were there to kill this game off. We weren't on the right side of those moments today. We played some good football, but you need to put those moments away. That was the main factor.

Parker was critical of his side's passivity after the break and had to turn to his bench to change the complexion of the game, with Harrison Reed and Cavaleiro combining for the equaliser just five minutes after coming on.

Second half we didn't do well enough when you're under pressure from long throws. Our subs came on and did very well, we have to deal with a point. We're disappointed it's not three but we keep moving. We looked a little bit flat second half. We needed a bit of a lift. We changed our shape slightly and it worked well.

The Fulham boss is refusing to write off his side's chances of beating the drop despite taking just two points from their recent meetings with the teams directly around them in the relegation battle.

There's 18 games left in the season and there's still a long way to go. A lot of strange results are around and we'll keep pushing with a team moving in the right direction.

Parker also appeared to confirm that there would be no new arrivals before the closure of the January transfer window.

I don't think so. I'm being told that won't be the case.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2021/01/fulham-should-have-been-out-of-sight-says-parker/

WhiteJC

Seri seals Bordeaux loan switch

Fulham midfielder Jean Michael Seri has completed his loan move to Bordeaux, the club have confirmed tonight.

The Ivorian international, signed for £25m in 2018, had made just two appearances for Fulham this season – both in the League Cup – and had been omitted from Scott Parker's initial 25-man Premier League squad. He spent last season on loan at Galatasaray, who had been engaged in protracted negotiations to take him to Turkey again, but Seri made clear a return to France was his preference.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2021/01/seri-seals-bordeaux-loan-switch/


WhiteJC

Jean Michael Seri: Fulham midfielder joins Bordeaux on loan


Jean Michael Seri scored once for Fulham, a strike against Burnley that was named the Premier League's goal of the month for August 2018

Fulham midfielder Jean Michael Seri has joined Ligue 1 side Bordeaux on loan until the end of the season.

The Ivory Coast playmaker, 28, signed for Fulham in a £25m deal from Nice in July 2018 and played 32 times in the Premier League, scoring once.

However he spent all of the 2019-20 campaign on loan with Galatasaray.

He only made two Carabao Cup appearances in 2020-21 and did not feature for Fulham in a Premier League match this season.

Fulham are 18th in the Premier League and he joins a Bordeaux side who are eighth in the French top flight.



https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55875388

WhiteJC

What would relegation mean for Fulham?

This week's massive relegation six pointers did not go well. Whatever Scott Parker might have said publicly prior to facing Brighton and Hove Albion and West Bromwich Albion in the space of four days, Fulham needed more than just two points from those two games. The club are now staring at the possibility of a third relegation since Shahid Khan took over in 2013 and the impact of another drop from the top flight on this squad, the club's overall finances and Financial Fair Play regulations would be considerable.

Heading back to the Championship would necessitate another summer rebuild. Fulham's current side is heavily built around loan players, who would all leave. It is fanciful to think that Joachim Andersen, Ademola Lookman or Ruben Loftus-Cheek would be eager to play in the second tier and their current deals would make them too expensive in any case. The same certainly goes for Alphonse Areola, who on the basis of his excellent displays in a Fulham shirt would feel confident of finding a new club in one of the continent's top divisions. The likeliest player to remain at Craven Cottage might be Mario Lemina, but that appears a stretch – especially with Genoa rumoured to have been interested in taking him back to Italy earlier this month.

The best of Fulham's permanent playing staff would look elsewhere as well. Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa has already far exceeded the level of his previous performances at Craven Cottage, attracting both praise from the pundits and envious glances from elsewhere. Given the length of his contract and the impending financial pressures, a cut-price sale post-relegation could prove too tempting to resist. There's a real chance that Aleksandar Mitrovic, despite his lack of form to date this term, could leave as well. He's a proven goalscorer at international level, probably has his peak years ahead of him and the club would find it difficult to carry his wages in the Championship. Others might head for the exit too. Tosin Adarabioyo has reportedly caught the eye of Juventus already. Why play alongside Cristiano Ronaldo when you can take on Lincoln on a rainy Tuesday night?

Therefore, Fulham would be faced with the sort of enforced reshaping of their squad they have had to go through before. An aging and rather uninspiring squad, with many members of the 'old guard' coming to the end of their contracted years, would be asked to make an immediate return from the Championship – and we all remember just how tough a league that is. The club would surely have to bring in new signings, constrained by a limited post-Covid budget without any of the revenue earned from a sustained spell at English football's top table. They might turn to youth, but an influx of too many youngsters risks both competitiveness on the field and stalling promising careers, as we saw under Felix Magath.

The Premier League revenue distribution model means that clubs generate incredible sums of broadcast revenue simply from participation in the competition. A finish in the relegation places can still be worth circa £100 million. Here is how the funds were distributed in Fulham's last Premier League campaign, 2018/19:

Fulham's 2019 accounts show that in 2018/19, Fulham generated £108.98 million from broadcast revenue streams, a 403.4% increase on the 2017/18 season prior, in which the team competed in the Championship and earnt just £21.65 million from broadcast revenue. It can, therefore, be assumed that these figures would be reversed on relegation. However, Fulham would receive £45 million in parachute payments from the Premier League to try and plug this gap. In the second season, parachute payments would drop to £35 million before vanishing completely for the third season as Fulham would have only completed in the Premier Division for one season before relegation.

The club would also suffer a relatively large drop in commercial income, as sponsors often hold clauses to reduce payments or even exit the sponsorship deal entirely. This is because sponsorship becomes less desirable with less visibility, decreasing the price that the club can demand. Fulham's accounts show that commercial revenue increased 2.1 times upon promotion to the Premier League in 2018/19, from £8.47 million to £17.73 million, meaning that dropping out of the top flight may likely have the reverse affect.

Finally, matchday revenue would also theoretically decrease due to decreases in ticket prices and attendances. Matchday revenue is the most important revenue stream for football clubs, despite usually being the smallest, as its regularity allows clubs to pay operating expenses during the season. However, COVID-19 has meant that clubs have not been able to generate any matchday revenue for almost a year, setting aside a single game against Liverpool in December. Therefore, any change on matchday revenue from the 2020/21 season would be good, as it means that fans are back in stadiums and spending money.



Dramatic decreases in revenue may cause concern over Financial Fair Play (FFP). FFP is a set of financial regulations put in place by the Premier League and EFL, designed to ensure that clubs are living sustainably within their means by limiting the losses that they can make over a 3-year period. If Fulham are relegated come the end of this season, the FFP limit for 2021/22, measured from 2019/20-2021/22, will be £61 million. This is because for each Premier League season, the club can lose up to £35 million as per the regulations, whereas in the Championship, this drops to just a £16 million loss per season – which is especially tight when considering the much lower revenues.

To see just where Fulham lie in relation this £61 million FFP limit, the club's main costs must be analysed. Just with any football club, Fulham's main costs are the 'total staff costs', or wages, PAYE and pension payments. The 2019 accounts show that Fulham spent a whopping 141.8% of revenue on wages in the 2017/18 championship season, spending £54.3 million on staff costs compared to just £38.3 million revenue. In 2018/19, after the £100 million splurge, this had increased to £92.6 million. This shows just how wildly out of control the staff cost spending is, even with relegation wage drop clauses inserted, it would likely be much higher than turnover.



Fulham's other major cost is the ongoing amortisation of transfer fees. Amortisation is an accounting process which spreads an initial cost, such as a transfer fee, over a set period of time, such as the player's contract. If the player's contract is extended, any remaining cost is spread over the extension period.

I have attempted to work out Fulham's ongoing amortisation costs with the Fulham squad, using Transfermarkt's reported transfer fees. Note that this is an estimate and that figures will be incorrect due to estimated fees and unknown amounts of depreciation and impairment.



By my estimation, the amortised cost of the current squad for the 2021/22 FFP period, without any incoming or outgoing transfers between now and the end of 2021/22, is a mind-blowing £119.34 million. The big 2018/19 spend really is coming back to bite us, explaining the shrewd spending this summer as well as the lack of any movement so far this January window.

For Fulham to pass the FFP regulations next season, if relegated, the club must generate enough revenue to come within £61 million of the total costs. This seems like a mammoth task. Fulham have already been stung by FFP, suffering a transfer embargo in 205 as a result. However, this time around, it would likely wreck even more havoc due to the costs that the club faces, threatening to send us back to the dark ages of battling relegation to League One under Kit Symonds.

So what is most likely to save Fulham this financial heartache? A strong run of results in the second half of the season, as remote a prospect as that appears on this particular Sunday morning, would be ideal. Failing that, a summer fire sale of some of our leading assets and a spot of creative accounting would be the best option. Now, where are those six wins coming from ...



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2021/01/what-would-relegation-mean-for-fulham/

WhiteJC

Jack and Loz Not at the Cottage - Blog 163

Opposition: West Brom

Score: 2-2

Fulham goal scorers: Bobby Decordova-Reid, Ivan Cavaleiro

MOTM: He's back 🔥

Snacks: Loz - cheese and tomato on toast; Jack - Swiss roll

When you follow a team which oscillates between leagues (there is another phrase to describe this sort of team but we'd rather not use it) every season is stressful. You are either fighting for promotion when every dropped point feels like a disaster, or fighting to avoid relegation when every dropped point feels worse.

This time two years ago, some of us were still in denial, but relegation was already a certainty. Until Saturday's match against West Brom, this season felt different. Sure, no one is too good not to go down but this Fulham team seemed to have enough quality, enough unity and enough spark to pull off one of Houdini's greatest tricks. Now however, with another 2 points casually thrown away, it feels for the first time as if we are closer to going down than staying up.

This was the most Game of Two Halfy game ever. First half Fulham: strong, dynamic, dominant, creative, confident, assured, beautiful to watch. Second half Fulham: poo.

Let's do the easy bit first: that first half was sublime. Fulham were playing football as its meant to be played - with enjoyment, skill and a touch of artistry. Mitro has come in from the cold and looks like he's never been away - at the heart of every attack with his expert awareness, perfect positioning and deft touch. We were seeing what we had all hoped would happen - our best striker slotting in to our best system. With the fast runners around and ahead of him Mitro was controlling the attack. Behind him, RLC was actually looking decent and Frank was back to his best and in magisterial control. Bobby's goal was well crafted and neatly finished and to the extent that the defence had to do anything, they did it well.

But as the minutes rolled by and shots were saved or missed we all saw the warning signs: we are Fulham and one goal is never enough; the very essence of Fulhamishness is ruing chances not taken.

The big question is, how can the same 11 men make playing football look so easy for 45 minutes then look like they've never played it before for the next 45? Credit to West Brom and their brute of a manager for improving so emphatically at half time but Fulham have faced far better teams this season and known how to deal with them. We have often praised the mentality and spirit of the team. In the second half, one hint of adversity and they capitulated instantly. The defence were taken by surprise (unlike every watching Fulham fan) and couldn't contain the Baggies' newfound determination and aggression. The midfield was overrun and the attackers barely touched the ball.

We seem to have a team with no killer instinct and no knowledge of the rules of a game in which they aren't the underdog. Scott gets so much right but his blind belief that being hard to beat is worth settling for is stifling the team and sinking the season.

One thing he did get right, as well as the initial line up, were the subs - right people, rights places, right times. Lemina's elaborate style wasn't working against plain dealing West Brom and Harrison Reed brought in some much needed bite. Cav's role in life is to be an impact sub on the wing and the two quickly combined for a fantastic goal. Tete, too, was influential as the game drew to its scrappy and desperate end but he couldn't quite do enough. Meanwhile, RLC had become Ruben Often-Fouled which was useful but it would be better if he could turn into Ruben Beatsthe-Keeper.

It was good to have Robinson back but this was a game to forget for the defence, with even the usually reliable Areola dazed and deceived.

Once again, this was a must win game and we didn't win it. Not to capitalise on the dominance of the first half was weak and naive and to fade so badly in the second half was criminal. At half time this felt like a match we should win easily. By the full time whistle we were grateful for the draw. Whilst the result is frustrating in itself it raises much bigger questions - if we can't beat West Brom, who can we beat? Whilst there are still plenty of points to play for, how are we going to win them?

Random musings:-

- is "the Hawthorns is the highest English ground above sea level" their version of "Antonee Robinson nearly signed for Milan?"

- Dion Dublin is a nice man but a dreadful commentator

So the match ended in disappointment and at the moment it is hard to believe that the season won't as well. In not being able to beat the teams around us are getting dragged down by the undertow and the light is beginning to fade. But believing is something we do well at Fulham and in this strange season of twists, turns and tragedy it feels like anything could happen. We don't have to look back as far as Houdini's time to find a Great Escape. We have done it before, we can do it again.

Mitro is back and the fire is being stoked. There is quality in the team and there is everything to play for. We're not beaten yet.



https://werdsmith.com/p/SJvpMRSQAehQn