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Saturday Fulham Stuff - 24/04/21...

Started by WhiteJC, April 24, 2021, 12:18:30 AM

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WhiteJC


WhiteJC

Slavisa Jokanovic has already mapped out vision that Sheffield United fans can get excited about

The two-time promotion winning manager is one of the leading candidates in the race to succeed Chris Wilder at Bramall Lane

Slavisa Jokanovic remains one of the leading contenders for the Sheffield United manager's vacancy.

The former Fulham and Watford boss is currently working out in Qatar. But it is understood he is keen on a return to English football, upon the impending expiry of his contract with Al-Gharafa.

Should the Blades' hierarchy reach an agreement with the 52-year-old then they would not only be getting a double promotion winner, but also someone with an interesting slant on the tactics employed and required in modern day football.

Speaking to the Coaches' Voice, Jokanovic outlined his philosophy upon joining Fulham back in 2015.

At the time he joined, in December of that year, the side were struggling in the lower reaches of the Championship and it would not be until his first full season that they began their upward trajectory.

The 2016-17 season saw the Cottagers lose out in the play-offs at the semi-final stage to Reading before they came back the year after and overcame Aston Villa in the Wembley final to seal promotion to the Premier League.

Despite guiding Fulham to the top flight, the Serb was dismissed after just 12 games.

But it was the brand of football that he got Fulham playing that won him plenty of admirers.

Regarding the style of play, Jokanovic said: "This style, before us, didn't exist. This is clear. When we came to Fulham, we observed what we had in our hands.

"At the beginning, so the first six months, they were complicated for us. We didn't find a clear way of how we were going to play in this period where we were fighting through a difficult period.

"Then the second year we started pre-season with a new team, new players and tried to find a clear way, step-by-step and a way to build some kind of style.

"At the end, it was recognised we played good football. We believe in this direction and it's an easier way for this group of players to win games."

Those points about assessing the group he inherited before deciding on a suitable formation will be music to the ears of many Blades' fans.

United supporters have grown accustomed to the club's unique formation, perfected by predecessor Chris Wilder. A ripping up of this would be perhaps understandable by any new manager but it is clearly something Jokanovic would be loathe to do upon immediately entering a new environment.

Another key admission made by Jokanovic is his willingness to sometimes sacrifice silk for steel.

If he does arrive at Bramall Lane, the unforgiving nature of the Championship almost demands that results are more often that not prioritised above performances.

To this end, he said: "I understand that in football it's only results that are important.

"At the end, people only look for the result and who won. What we believe, in the way that we chose to play, was that the group of players can find the benefits and win an easier way.

"All I want is to win the game. I'm not such an aesthetic man. In general I want to be competitive and I want to win, but I want to do what I can to do it.

"In which way you do that, it's less important."



https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/football/news/jokanovic-sheffield-united-fans-vision-20446034

WhiteJC

Middlesbrough boss admits permanent deal for Fulham loanee in doubt

Speaking to Teesside Live, Middlesbrough manager Neil Warnock admitted it is unlikely the club will be able to sign Fulham winger Neeskens Kebano on a permanent deal.

Kebano joined Middlesbrough from Fulham in the January transfer window and has impressed in his short spell at the club.

Warnock previously stated that Boro would make a decision on the player in the summer, but it now looks unlikely they could afford to buy the winger outright.

With the Cottagers having secured promotion to the Premier League through the play-offs last season, Kebano was seen as surplus to requirements following the arrival of Red Bull Leipzig wide man Ademola Lookman.

However, with relegation looking a real possibility for Scott Parker's side and Lookman re-joining his parent club in Germany, Kebano is likely to re-enter the first-team fold in the second tier.

Warnock claimed that a permanent deal to sign the Democratic Republic of Congo international was unlikely, but he didn't rule out another loan move.

"Neeskens has got another year at Fulham, so I don't think there's much chance of anything happening there unless they want to loan him out again.

"I would imagine they'll be looking at Neeskens and thinking, 'Well, he's got a year left, we might as well try and sell him if we're not going to be using him rather than let his contract run out.'"

Similarly to Kebano, Yannick Bolasie will return to his parent club Everton when his loan expires, whereas Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Marvin Johnson are out of contract. Therefore in the summer Middlesbrough could be without four first-team wingers.

They will no doubt be looking in the market to sign replacements. In recent months, the Teessiders have been linked to the likes of Sheffield Wednesday's Kadeem Harris who is set to become a free agent in June. Harris played under Warnock during their time together at Cardiff City and a reunion could materialise between the two former Bluebirds.



https://the72.co.uk/232592/middlesbrough-boss-admits-permanent-deal-for-fulham-loanee-in-doubt/


WhiteJC

Football Is For Everyone


Fulham is for everyone. Football, is for everyone. Full stop.

That's why we are committed to our zero tolerance policy when it comes to discrimination and anti-social behaviour, in all its forms.

Last season, the Club introduced our own in-house text message service, encouraging supporters to report any inappropriate behaviour on matchdays at Craven Cottage.

Anti-social behaviour can happen anywhere, though, and so we have evolved the service, allowing fans to get in touch – entirely confidentially – if they witness abuse across any official Club channels, in addition to in person when crowds are back in stadiums.

If you witness racist or homophobic abuse, or any form of discrimination or anti-social behaviour, text FULHAM, plus details of the incident, to 60066. (Please note that the system does not support image attachments, so screenshots and photographs must be sent via [email protected]).

Texts are free to send and will be treated in the strictest confidence.

See it. Hear it. Report it.




https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2021/april/Football-Is-For-Everyone/

WhiteJC


European Super League executives should lose their jobs, say the 14 other Premier League clubs

A number of Premier League club chief executives have told Sky Sports News they can no longer trust or deal with their counterparts at Manchester United, Man City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham after they tried to form a European Super League


The officials at the six clubs who plotted the European Super League breakaway should be removed from their jobs, according to the other Premier League clubs.

The 14 teams not involved are calling on the owners of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham to "do the right thing" because they will never be able to trust or deal with their executives again.

Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has already resigned and the other clubs want more heads to roll because lines have not just been crossed, "but trampled all over".

"We had been told repeatedly that they weren't setting up a Super League so after what's happened this week, we simply can't deal with these people again," one chief executive told Sky Sports News.

"The owners of these six clubs need to find new people to represent them at Premier League meetings. They have to be replaced. Some of these people have more faces than the town clock.

"We all disagree (on things) and we all look after our own interests but there are certain lines which can't be crossed and so many lines have been trampled all over this week."

The executives responsible from the six clubs have spent this week calling their counterparts at the other 14 to apologise for their actions - but that has done little to help so far.

The Premier League are expected to take action against them after they have finished investigating the events that led to the aborted plans, which have shaken the football world to its core.

"It would have ruined the other 14 clubs if this had gone ahead, we would have been destroyed," another chief executive told Sky Sports News.

"We have absolutely no problem with their fans, players, managers and staff, but we have a big, big problem with their owners and CEOs.

"We thought they would have learned their lesson after 'Project Big Picture' but they're clearly so arrogant that they've continued to say one thing and do another."

A third chief executive said: "Ideally we want the owners to sell up but we know that's not going to happen. What they can do though is replace these people and bring in some fresh faces.

"We feel like we've been deceived and what they've done goes against everything we stand for. If they ever come to one of our meetings again, we will stonewall them. We will blank them."

Watch 'Football's Civil War' live from 5pm on Friday - a special two-and-a-half-hour Sky Sports News show looking into how the breakaway Super League rocked football to its very core, and asking 'what now' for Britain's national game.

The show includes new interviews with Pep Guardiola, Gary Neville and Nemanja Matic, plus contributions from John Barnes, Alan Smith, Raphael Honigstein and others, to cover one of the biggest stories in British sport for decades.



https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11661/12284902/european-super-league-executives-should-lose-their-jobs-say-the-14-other-premier-league-clubs

WhiteJC

West Ham eye £15m Alphonse Areola transfer as PSG loanee faces Fulham decision
West Ham are keeping tabs on goalkeeper Alphonse Areola, on loan at Fulham this season.

West Ham are monitoring Fulham's on-loan goalkeeper Alphonse Areola ahead of the summer transfer window, as they look to the future between the sticks.

The 28-year-old has had an excellent season while on loan at Craven Cottage from Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain.

Areola has made 32 Premier League appearances this term and is rated by his parent club at around £15million.

Fulham have an option to purchase Areola outright at the end of the season, but the Frenchman wants to wait to see what division the Cottagers will be competing in before deciding if he will stay.

They currently sit 18th and six points off of Burnley above them, and the Clarets have played one match less than Fulham, who have five top-flight fixtures last term.

West Ham are considering a move should Scott Parker's Fulham side be relegated at the end of this campaign - but PSG could also decide to keep the France international.

The Hammers' No 1 choice Lukasz Fabianski, 36, has a contract at West Ham until 2023, but the club are looking for a longer term option in goal.

Slavia Prague goalkeeper Ondrej Kolar has also been linked with the Hammers, as has Queens Park Rangers shot-stopper Seny Dieng.

West Ham boss David Moyes is meanwhile hopeful of having striker Michail Antonio back available before the end of the season.

"More than hopeful," he said. "We have to hope somewhere along the line we can get Micky, Declan Rice, Aaron Cresswell, Arthur Masuaku back in amongst it.

"Because they have been important players throughout the year so we are aware if we can get them back it will help us.

"From the start of the season, we have seen all sorts of teams have injuries so the job is to try and get on with it and to be fair we have done pretty well coping without a few of our players recently and we will keep that going.

"Injuries are part and parcel of football and I always look at it another way, the players coming in have a big chance to show what they can do and take the opportunity to stand up and hopefully that is the case."

He added of Cresswell: "He is getting closer put it that way. We will monitor it and see how he feels [for Chelsea]."

The Hammers take on Chelsea knowing victory would see them leapfrog the fourth-placed Blues in their bid to qualify for the Champions League.

And Moyes continued: "We are in the mix certainly for some form of European football, whether it is the big one I don't know but we are going to try and make sure we are close.

"We have a couple of difficult games coming up and a few injuries like everybody else, but undoubtedly I can see us going right to the last game of the season with something to play for."



https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1427223/West-Ham-transfer-news-Alphonse-Areola-PSG-Fulham-Premier-League-gossip-rumours


WhiteJC

West Ham waiting on £15m Fulham man to make call on future

West Ham could make a move to sign goalkeeper Alphonse Areola should he decide to move on from Fulham at the end of the season.

Areola has spent the 20/21 season on loan with the Cottagers from PSG. He missed their first game of the campaign, but has since made 33 appearances in all competitions. The Frenchman has kept 10 clean sheets in those outings and been one of the stand out performers for his team.

Fulham do have an option to secure him permanently, however the player's preference will also be taken into consideration.

Areola will reportedly wait to discover whether Fulham will be in the Premier League or the Championship next term before making up his mind.

As things stand, they have a huge battle on their hands to survive the drop. Scott Parker's men are 18th on the table, six points behind 17th placed Burnley. The Clarets also have a game in hand.

West Ham ready to swoop

Should Fulham go on to be relegated and Areola opt to depart, it appears West Ham could be a potential destination for him.

That is according to a report in the Express, who say the Hammers are interested in the £15million rated glovesman.

That's because the East London outfit are on the look out for a new long-term option between the sticks.

Their current number one, Lukasz Fabianski, recently turned 36 and is in the twilight of his career. Despite the Pole recently signing a new deal, the club have one eye on the future and know they will need to replace him sooner or later.

At 28, Areola is a man who could be the answer for a number of years to come. His wealth of experience would also be valuable to the Hammers, who are in a strong position to qualify for European football in 2021/22.

The report adds that Slavia Prague 'keeper Ondrej Kolar and QPR's Seny Dieng are alternatives.



https://www.teamtalk.com/news/west-ham-waiting-on-15m-fulham-man-to-make-call-on-future

WhiteJC

Burnley boss Sean Dyche not listening to outside noise in battle for Premier League survival
The perception outside Turf Moor is that Fulham are ramping up the pressure on Burnley in their bid for a great escape.

The Cottagers closed the gap to six points to the Clarets after a 1-1 draw at Arsenal on Sunday - where the Gunners were indebted to an equaliser in the seventh minute of stoppage time.

And Burnley were unable to extend their advantage as they went down 3-1 at Manchester United.

However, while Burnley sit a place and two wins above Scott Parker's side, with a game in hand, form suggests it is Sean Dyche's men who are keeping their heads above water, rather than being hunted down.

Over the calendar year, Burnley have a point more, with 17, from the same number of games, 17, and the last six results put Fulham bottom of the Premier League form table with a point, with the Clarets, despite three successive defeats, claiming four points in that time.

Indeed, since early March, when Fulham won 1-0 at Liverpool, the gap between the sides has grown from four to six, despite the Cottagers playing a game more.

And while Burnley could mathematically be pegged back by Fulham, the Clarets are, conversely, only a point behind Brighton, two behind Newcastle, and a win adrift of Southampton.

Dyche, as ever, is only interested in what his side do in their remaining six games, which include one at Craven Cottage in just over a fortnight: "People keep asking me about everyone else - we're just concentrating on what we can do.

"But it's interesting that people only ever ask about us. Someone actually asked me about this the other week, not actually realising Brighton were still below us at the time. But it's not the first time we've been here.

"There's a reality to the season's work. We speak to the players in real, honest, and balanced terms, and they are fully aware of what is at stake.

"They know about the challenges we face every season, and the big challenge we've faced virtually all of this season with injuries.

"To get to game seven with only two points was disappointing for everyone, especially myself and the players. But my total belief back then was that we would correct it, and we have corretedit.

"You know, it was only a short while ago that Fulham were four points behind us, on level games, and now we're six points in front with a game in hand.

"Yet somehow the outside perception is we're in a worse mess now. That we've gone backwards. No we haven't. We've gone forwards. I'm not bothered by that. I'm just stating the facts.

"It should only be about what we do, but it's not as simple as that. The players get it lobbed in their faces constantly about what the teams around us are doing, as do I, from social media and from being asked questions.

"But the fact remains when the whistle blows you've got to focus on putting in a good performance, and turning that performance into a win. And if not a draw. And if you don't get either, refoc us on the next one, and try to put it right.

"The outside noise is all around you, but you have to try to shut it out and make it all about you. Because when we get things right, we can at least be competitive in every game of a Premier League session. The challenge is getting it right."

Fulham are without a game this weekend, while Burnley are at a Wolves side missing a number of key players through injury, with Nuno Espírito Santo's men not really playing for anything other than pride and their final position.

Dyche reads nothing into that: "You can't rely on that. Every team will have their own reasons for whatever they're doing, and how they're performing. Managers will have their own ideas about wanting to rest players, or to change certain things. I'm certainly not having that here, because I tell my players that every team we face are ready to play to their maximum, so we'd better be ready to play too - as we always are.

"We certainly haven't waited for any favours in our time in the Premier League. We've had to earn everything we've got, and we'll continue to do that."



https://www.pendletoday.co.uk/sport/football/burnley-boss-sean-dyche-not-listening-to-outside-noise-in-battle-for-premier-league-survival-3212626

WhiteJC


Alex Borto signs professional contract with Fulham

The American goalkeeper officially joins the Premier League club.

Fulham FC announced that goalkeeper Alex Borto has signed his first professional contract. The American recently joined the club's academy last summer, securing the starting role with the U-18 squad. In today's 5-1 victory over Reading, he made "a couple of vital stops, including a brilliant one-handed dive."

"I was really happy because it was always a dream of mine to go pro," Borto told the club's official website. "For me to hear that news, I was just so blessed. All the hard work that I've been putting in has paid off... This is a great academy and my aim is to play with the Under-23s next year and hopefully train with the first team eventually. The goal, of course, is to get to a point where I'm training with first team every day."

Praised for his work ethic and natural ability, Borto joined the Fulham Academy in July of 2020, spurning interest from Manchester United and Leicester City. After waiting several months due to the travel ban and quarantine, he has appeared in 12 matches for the club's U-18 side and has frequently been on the bench for the reserves. His stated goals are to compete for the first-team within "four-to-five years" and be "the best keeper in the world by age 26 or 27."

Fulham is currently in 18th place in the English Premier League, likely headed back to the Championship one year after securing promotion. The club, occasionally known as Fulhamerica, features several Americans in the first-team squad and reserves including Tim Ream, Antonee Robinson, and Marlon Fossey. The goalkeeper depth chart has several options, although current starter Alphonse Areola, on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, likely won't return next season.

Borto has yet to appear at the youth international level. The South Plainfield, New Jersey native is eligible to play for the USMNT and Poland. According to Fulham Academy Director Huw Jennings, "Both nations are monitoring his progress closely."



https://www.starsandstripesfc.com/usmnt-transfer-rumors/2021/4/23/22400228/alex-borto-fulham-contract-usmnt-usa