Monday Fulham Stuff - 30/08/21...

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Harry Wilson sends message following Fulham's victory over Stoke City

Fulham winger Harry Wilson has taken to Twitter to send a message after he helped his side to beat Stoke City 3-0 at Craven Cottage on Saturday.

Wilson was on the score sheet five minutes into the contest after being set up by Aleksandar Mitrovic and was very happy to mark his return from suspension with a goal.

The Wales international then assisted the Serbian striker in the 72nd minute as the Cottagers rubber stamped a 3-0 win in front of a sanctified home crowd.

Wilson's early strike marked his second since joining the club from Liverpool this summer and he was quick to take to social media to express his delight at the victory:

Team🤝🤍 great to be back out there today and get another 3 points🙌🏼⚽️ @FulhamFC pic.twitter.com/HAjzZKDt73

— harry wilson (@harrywilson_) August 28, 2021

The former Cardiff City and Derby County's player's impact on this Fulham side won't have surprised many, as this is a player who has already proved that he is more than good enough to play at both Sky Bet Championship level and in the Premier League.

His aim now will be to help his new side achieve their dream of getting promotion back to the top flight at the first attempt after suffering relegation last season.

Marco Silva has had an ideal start to his tenure in charge with the West London side and he will undoubtedly be delighted with the way that his players have brought into his methods and style of play.

They deservedly sit at the top of the league standings at the time of writing and they will now be looking to open up a lead over their rivals over the next few months as they look to put real distance between themselves and the chasing pack.

The Whites face Blackpool next in the league away from home, which is then followed by a trip to Birmingham City before returning to Craven Cottage to take on Reading.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/harry-wilson-sends-message-following-fulhams-victory-over-stoke-city/

[WhiteJC]

Tom Cairney and the captaincy question

Marco Silva's press conference on Friday had a number of juicy titbits in it – including the suggestion that Tom Cairney could be close to a return to training. We've been waiting nine months for Fulham's premier playmaker to shake off his troublesome knee injuries and have already been through a few false dawns. Some have speculated that our number ten is no longer an automatic pick given how seamlessly Fabio Carvalho has taken to senior football, whilst others wonder whether the captain's armband should remain his.

There's no doubt about his talismanic ability, but Cairney is certainly more of a leader by example than a leader of men. He's the only Fulham captain to have led the Whites out onto the Wembley turf three times and has written his name into Fulham folklore after those two memorable play-off final victories. His ability with the ball at his feet is unquestionable as well. Cairney was the creative force in Slavisa Jokanovic's stylish side that swaggered their way to 23 matches unbeaten when the prospect of the Championship play-offs he eventually won so memorably against Aston Villa appeared particularly remote. The emotion in his television interview after that final laid bare his struggles with chronic knee problems – and without those injury clouds it isn't too fanciful to suggest he might have firmly established himself in the top flight, or at least, become a regular feature in the Scottish national side.

Cairney's never quite cracked the Premier League, but he is in a class of his own in the Championship. His wonderful left foot means opponents often have to put two men on him just to reduce his influence and ability to retain possession. There's no doubt the quiet midfielder has grown in stature since taking on the captaincy from Scott Parker and his longevity in a time of constant change at Fulham has to applauded. His 212 appearances put him pretty high on the club's all-time list – and Cairney's Championship numbers are simply incredible: 152 games, 34 goals and 47 assists denote just how pivotal a performer he has been in several Craven Cottage sides.

Cairney might not be a conventional captain in the blood and thunder, bawl them out mould, but he's earned his leadership credentials through an old-fashioned work ethic and letting his football do the talking. He can run a game with his feet rather than his voice and those qualities have been recognised by successive managers, from Jokanovic to Ranieri and right through to Parker. He does face arguably his toughest challenge after a prolonged period on the sidelines: first to prove his fitness on the training pitches and remain healthy long enough to mount a sustained challenge to the starting line-up in an area of the field where Fulham suddenly look very strong. Carvalho has yet to put a foot wrong in a series of mature displays and the re-emergence of Jean Michael Seri might even push Cairney down the pecking order in the deeper midfield role he sometimes occupied under Parker.

Silva will eventually have to make a difficult call on the future of Cairney's Fulham career. The peerless passer has made no secret of the fact that the best football of his career has come by the banks of the Thames, but there must be a question mark over whether he can return to that sort of level. Does he still possess the ability to turn a game in the blink of an eye? Is he the sort of on-field leader than Silva wants? Tim Ream has done a terrific job as an understated skipper in Cairney's absence and the American appears to be enjoying a new lease of life under the club's new regime. He's even embraced social media with a zeal that has surprised plenty, suggesting that he sees his role as helping to repair the relationship between the fans and the club.

It goes without saying that we hope the next few weeks go well for Cairney. He's just got engaged and seems settled in London. His contributions to Fulham's fortunes since he arrived from Blackburn in what looks an absolute bargain of a deal these days already make him a bona fide Fulham legend. If he could reach the heights of those Jokanovic campaigns at the heart of the Fulham midfield, then the potential for Silva's side would appear limitless. Cairney himself hasn't given up on the prospect of resurrecting his Fulham career and, as one brilliant former manager so memorably implored in his programme notes, now's the time to keep the faith.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2021/08/tom-cairney-and-the-captaincy-question/

[WhiteJC]

Decordova-Reid 'buzzing' after brilliant display

Bobby Decordova-Reid was 'buzzing' after playing a part in all three goals as Fulham breezed past Stoke City to maintain their unbeaten start to the season yesterday afternoon.

The Jamaican international scored a crucial second eight minutes into the second half to give Marco Silva's side some much needed breathing space and laid on the two other goals for Harry Wilson and Aleksandar Mitrovic as the Whites passed their sternest test of the campaign to date with flying colours. Decordova-Reid told FFCTV after the final whistle that he was delighted with all aspects of the performance:

"It was nice. Very enjoyable to play in, especially scoring goals, getting a clean sheet and the fans can go home happy and enjoy the weekend. It was enjoyable. I enjoyed today. To get the win as well was even better. I want to keep effecting games, whether that's scoring or assisting, and being involved in the goals. I'm buzzing going into the international break."

Decordova-Reid was modest in recounting his own goal after getting off the mark for the new campaign.

"It was nice movement from Mitro, to be fair. You've got to follow in it, you don't know what can happen. Being in the right place at the right time – you've got to consistently do it, it's not just a thing where it happens once. You keep making the run, sometimes it will come to you, sometimes not. You've got to be ready to take the chance."

He admitted that Mitrovic's decision to sign a new five-year contract at Craven Cottage on Friday represented a 'massive' boost for everyone at the club.

"It's massive. We know what he can do. He can score goals – like he's done today, so it is massive for us, massive for him as well. It gives us confidence going into games and, if we can use him to the best of us ability, that we've got a good chance."



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2021/08/decordova-reid-buzzing-after-brilliant-display/

[WhiteJC]

Tony Khan Wants To Bring AEW To Fulham's Craven Cottage

The beloved Craven Cottage could get to house an AEW show in the future.

Ever since All Elite Wrestling formally launched in early 2019, many have pondered when AEW would embark on the company's first UK tour. And if Tony Khan gets his way, we could well see an AEW event take place from Fulham's Craven Cottage home on the bank of the River Thames.

Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Khan enthused how he not only wants to bring AEW to the UK, but that he wants to house a show at the legendary home of the Fulham football club that is owned by Tony's father Shahid Khan.

"I do want to come to England. It's a huge part of my life. It's a great thing we have with ITV. It's been amazing for us. We have great wrestlers from the UK, male and female. I can't announce exact dates, but I want to bring AEW to Craven Cottage."

Shahid Khan purchased Fulham from Mohamed Al-Fayed in July 2013, with Tony Khan initially getting involved with the club in 2015. By February 2017, Tony was named as Vice Chairman and Director of Football Operations, in addition to also serving as General Manager and Sporting Director.

As for Craven Cottage, that has been the home of Fulham dating back to 1896. These days, the capacity of the ground is 19,359 for football matches, although one would imagine that a larger crowd could be assembled for a wrestling event - with the main pitch area obviously offering up plentiful potential for more seats.

While no UK tour or even a one-off show has been announced yet, it's certainly clear that AEW is planning to head to the UK sooner rather than later.



https://whatculture.com/wwe/tony-khan-wants-to-bring-aew-to-fulhams-craven-cottage

[WhiteJC]

Bournemouth continue battle with Fulham for Championship midfielder

Bournemouth and Fulham remain in pursuit of Swansea City captain Matt Grimes, as per a tweet from The Sun's Alan Nixon.

The Daily Mail first reported that the promotion-chasing Championship duo were interested back in mid-July, also stating that Southampton and Newcastle United were providing higher-level interest.

Grimes, who joined The Swans from hometown club Exeter City in 2015, has proceeded to make over 150 appearances for the South Walian club, scoring eight times, and assisting a further eight in the process.

The 26-year-old has also played every single minute for The Swans this Championship season, whilst wearing the captain's armband in all of them.

The midfielder has also represented England at youth-level, featuring for both the U20s and U21s, and also captained the U20s against Mexico.

The verdict

Grimes is a player who has consistently shone for The Swans and is deserving of a move to a team that will be challenging for automatic promotion come the end of the season.

In fact, he has probably earned the right to play in the Premier League over the last few years, with his wand of a left foot and excellent vision, making him such a composed figure in possession.

He also works relentlessly, something that would particularly suit Scott Parker's game at Bournemouth.

Grimes' leadership has guided Swansea into the play-offs twice in succession, but it remains to be seen if he embarks on a journey elsewhere.

Grimes has the technical ability, work rate, know-how of the game, and desire to succeed at the highest level, whether that be now, or with a side with strong hopes of winning promotion.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/bournemouth-continue-battle-with-fulham-for-championship-midfielder/

[WhiteJC]

2 fresh dilemmas Marco Silva faces at Fulham after their 3-0 win v Stoke City

Fulham managed to secure an impressive 3-0 win at home to Stoke City on Saturday to continue their promising start to the campaign in the Championship.

Marco Silva's side had managed to secure ten points from their opening four matches to leave themselves looking strong in the English second tier following their relegation from the Premier League last term.

Stoke represented a tough task for Fulham with them coming into the game on the same points and having proven to be a tough opponent to face in the opening weeks of the season.

However, Fulham's attacking talent in the final third proved to be too much for the Potters on the day and Silva's side have continued to show that they are going to be a major force in the Championship this term.

The result takes Fulham to the top of the table with 13 points from a possible 15, but there will still be one or two things that Silva will be looking at within his side to try and improve over the coming weeks and months.

With that in mind, we take a look at TWO fresh dilemmas that Silva will face following their fine win against Stoke...

Finding a way to take more of their chances in the final third
On the face of it, a 3-0 win against one of the teams that have started the season in strong form in the opening weeks would be an excellent result and represents a pretty flawless performance.

However, if Silva was being critical of his players he would have wanted them to make more of some of the excellent chances that they created in the final third of the field against Stoke.

Fulham took a fifth-minute lead through Harry Wilson but they did not manage to double their advantage until the 53rd minute.

They could easily have been out of sight by half time had Jean Michael Seri, Fabio Carvalho and Tosin Adarabioyo not been denied by Stoke's Joe Bursik from chances they maybe should have converted.

In total Fulham managed to fire in 19 efforts on goal to Stoke's 11 and also had nine attempts on target in the final third.

That sort of chance creation suggests that they are doing all of the right things in the build-up and now they just maybe need to convert more often to get even more end product that they deserve.

That though is a minor issue really for Fulham who are the division's leading scorers so far with 13 goals from their opening five matches.

They will score goals for sure, but after missing chances cost them last term often in the Premier League they will hope to improve their conversion rate in coming weeks.

Whether Fulham actually need a new right-back after all
Some of the talk heading into the game was around Fulham's potential need to invest in a new right-back before the summer transfer window comes to an end.

That comes after Silva suggested to the media ahead of the game against Stoke that Cyrus Christie is set to find a move away from Craven Cottage before the window shuts.

Therefore with Kenny Tete having suffered an injury, Fulham were potentially thinking that they might need to bring in a new right-back to strengthen their squad.

Dennis Odoi started at right-back against Stoke and the defender managed to deliver a very strong performance in that position for Fulham.

He managed to make three clearances, two tackles and won six duels to prove that he can be a very solid option for them once again this term now he is needed.

Fulham also know that they have got Steven Sessegnon waiting behind Odoi for a chance to impress Silva if anything happens to the defender.

Therefore the question heading into deadline day will now be, do they really need another right-back?



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/2-fresh-dilemmas-marco-silva-faces-at-fulham-after-their-3-0-win-v-stoke-city/

[WhiteJC]

William Carvalho rejects Fulham loan

William Carvalho has rejected the chance to join Fulham on loan, according to reports from Spain.

Marco Silva had been keen to be reunited with the Portuguese international, whom he had coached during his time in charge of Sporting Lisbon, but the defensive midfielder had turned down the possibility of making a move to the Championship. Real Betis – who are eager to have the 29 year-old off their wage bill before the end of the transfer window – had accepted Fulham's offer of an initial loan, with a permanent purchase obligation in the event of promotion to the Premier League, but the deal appears dead without the player's agreement.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2021/08/william-carvalho-rejects-fulham-loan/

[WhiteJC]

What do Fulham need in the final hours of the transfer window?

The transfer window will finally slam shut on Tuesday and Fulham are in the unusual position – in recent years, at least – of having already conducted the majority of their business. Marco Silva has signed three players – two of whom have quickly become key fixtures in his starting eleven as the Whites have stormed to the top of the Championship. Paulo Gazzaniga has started every league game in goal and Harry Wilson has added dynamism and goalscoring ability down the right flank.

Against the prevailing narrative of Fulham blowing huge wads of cash in an immediate attempt to return to the Premier League, the pair cost next to nothing. Gazzaniga arrived on a free transfer following his release by Tottenham earlier this summer, whilst Wilson has signed on an initial loan with payments on his permanent transfer from Liverpool deferred until next summer. The protracted saga of Rodrigo Muniz's switch from Flamengo has now concluded, but only the first payment of two sets of £3.4m has been shelled out.

There have also been departures from Craven Cottage this summer. Stefan Johansen joined QPR and proven a key component in Rangers' impressive start to the new season, whilst Aboubakar Kamara completed a move to Aris that may net Fulham as much as £4m. The precise nature of the deal that took Maxime Le Marchand to Strasbourg at the end of last week is not known, but contrary to some reports on Friday, Fulham did receive a fee. There may yet be further outgoings with Silva suggesting that Cyrus Christie could well leave the club early next week as the Republic of Ireland international is not in his plans and several Italian sides still hold a serious interest in Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa.

Silva's squad is stacked full of talent but the head coach himself has made plain that he would like to supplement his resources in the final days of the window. There remains a lack of depth in terms of defensive midfielders, even though Harrison Reed's return as a substitute against Stoke City this weekend was welcome. The proposed move for Matt Grimes appears to have gone quiet, but being linked with a replacement of the pedigree of William Carvalho was particularly eye opening. Fulham might also need a back up number ten as concerns persist about Tom Cairney's long-term fitness – however well Fabio Carvalho has taken to senior football.

Silva did speak earlier in the window about the possibility of adding defensive cover, which might be a subject broached again in the corridors of power at Motspur Park now that Le Marchand has returned to France. There were surprising links with a loan for Manchester United's Phil Jones last week, but his lack of game time over the past two years and a questionable injury record would make that something of a gamble – especially as Fulham already have two injury-prone defenders on their books. A younger alternative, such as the former Milan centre half Rodrigo Ely, could prove a sensible signing. In more recent days, the focus has been on a potential attention at right – given the seriousness of Kenny Tete's hamstring injury – and it remains to be seen whether Denis Odoi's assured display yesterday has changed Silva's mind about re-entering the transfer market.

Silva's system demands quality in the wide areas and I'd love the romance of offering Ryan Sessegnon a respite from his struggles at Spurs. He is a proven goalscorer at Championship level and desperately needs to recover his confidence after injuries and a lack of first-team football have several hampered his development in north London. You fancy he'd flourish in the Silva system and a consistent run of games would help him recover that zest that made him one of the country's most promising talents.

Fulham do love a dramatic transfer deadline day – and I suspect the club will still have several irons in the fire. There will be links a plenty and Silva has been quite vocal about the fact that his work to improve the squad will not finish until the deadline passes. There's no doubt that the club is going places will be an attractive proposition to potential signings, so hold onto your hats.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2021/08/what-do-fulham-need-in-the-final-hours-of-the-transfer-window/

[WhiteJC]

Napoli make loan move for Anguissa

Napoli have made contact with Fulham about the possibility of taking Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa on loan, according to reports from Italy tonight.

The Cameroon international has been widely tipped to leave Craven Cottage in the closing days of the summer transfer window, with several Serie A clubs reportedly interested in signing him. Jose Mourinho's Roma had been considered the frontrunners prior to this weekend, but they would also prefer an initial loan arrangement – which would be a blow to Fulham's hopes of attracting offers close to their £20m valuation. Napoli and Fulham are understood to currently be in talks about the precise nature of a potential deal.

Anguissa, who told new Fulham head coach Marco Silva that he didn't want to play in the Championship prior to the start of the new season, has made three appearances for the Whites so far this season. The 25 year-old has played in 66 games during his four years in south west London and excelled on loan with Villarreal in 2019/20.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2021/08/napoli-make-loan-move-for-anguissa/

[WhiteJC]

Menace Aleksandar Mitrovic brings his firepower to the fore in Fulham's mauling of Stoke... as team-mate Tim Ream admits he has the BRUISES to prove what a handful the striker is in training

    Aleksandar Mitrovic bullied Stoke as Fulham swept them aside 3-0 on Saturday
    Captain Tim Ream has confessed that Mitrovic is a handful in training sessions
    Ream says Fulham have a point to prove as they chase Premier League football

Fulham captain Tim Ream knows exactly how his rival Championship defenders will feel following Aleksandar Mitrovic's decision to extend his stay at Craven Cottage.

The Serbia international had a troubled time in the Premier League last season, finding the net just three times as the Cottagers slipped straight back into the second tier.

But Mitrovic, 26, who signed a new five-year deal on Friday, has been revived under incoming boss Marco Silva and struck his fourth goal of the season on Saturday to help secure the win that ensures the Cottagers head into the international break at the head of the table.


Striker Aleksandar Mitrovic (R) helped Fulham clobber Stoke 3-0 at home in the Championship


Mitrovic scored the third goal in a stroll for the Cottagers to send them top of the early table

Ream admits Mitrovic's continued presence at the club has provided a timely lift, but acknowledges training will continue to be an uncomfortable experience for himself and his fellow defenders.

'He's a handful to deal with, he causes so much trouble,' said Ream. 'He's not someone we enjoy dealing with in training. In training, he puts everything in and I have the bruises to prove it.

'I stay away from him as much as possible! I know what he brings ... I want to be fully fit and not in pain coming into games!

'When you know he's on his game, everything is going to come off. You can play the ball to him and it will stick or he can play someone in. If you put the right guys around him in games, it's a dangerous combination.


Fulham captain Tim Ream (L) has admitted players do not relish facing Mitrovic during training

'We knew Mitrovic was staying before the contract announcement — it shows he is committed to the cause, and he's proved it in the last three or four games.'

Mitrovic was involved in all his side's best moments against Stoke — having a hand in Harry Wilson's opener and Bobby De Cordova-Reid's second before adding the third himself — although he will want to forget the saved penalty in added time after Stoke keeper Josef Bursik had fouled Neeskens Kebano.

Fulham's display showed why they are tipped to go straight back up and make amends for last term's relegation.

'The entire squad has something to prove this season, not just Mitrovic,' said Ream. 'We want to be at the top of this division. We have put in the hard yards and we want to stay there.


Marco Silva's side's display showed why they are tipped to go straight back up to the top flight

'Getting relegated the way we did last season was embarrassing. We all have something to prove, not just one or two guys. We all came into pre-season with chips on our shoulders.'

Defeat ended Stoke's unbeaten start but Bursik believes it could have its benefits. 'Maybe it's a wake-up call to see the level they are at because a lot of players have played in the Premier League,' said the keeper.

'It's definitely a benchmark and we have to raise it before our next games. The manager has said we have to look at it as we have taken 10 points from five games. We are really happy with the start and we can't get too down with one defeat.'



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-9938343/Tim-Ream-admits-bruises-prove-handful-Aleksandar-Mitrovic-is.html

[WhiteJC]

Fulham see Grimes bid rejected

Swansea City have turned down a £2.5m bid from Fulham for their captain Matt Grimes, according to the Athletic's Peter Rutzler.

The Whites have tracked the 26 year-old midfielder for much of the summer and have already had one bid for Grimes rejected. The former Exeter City midfielder has a year to run on his current deal at the Liberty Stadium and he is understood to be unlikely to sign a new contract with his current employers.

Grimes, who has made 163 appearances for the Welsh side since joining Swansea six years ago, is widely regarded as one of the most consistent performers in the Championship. He was a key part of the Swansea side that reached the play-offs in successive seasons under former boss Steve Cooper, with the Swans losing in last season's final to Brentford. Grimes has put the speculation surrounding his future to one side to start all of Swansea's games so far this season.

Marco Silva is reportedly keen to make further additions to his squad before the close of the summer transfer window on Tuesday – but is unclear whether the Championship leaders will return with a third offer.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2021/08/fulham-see-grimes-bid-rejected/

[WhiteJC]

Ream delighted by Mitrovic's extension

Tim Ream is delighted that Aleksandar Mitrovic has committed his future to Fulham – and admits he has the bruises to prove that the Serbian striker is a force to be reckoned with.

The former Newcastle United forward signed a new five-year contract at Craven Cottage on Friday and celebrated by scoring as Marco Silva's saw off Stoke City to stay top of the table this weekend. Ream can sympathise with rival defenders after having to try and stop Mitrovic during training sessions at Motspur Park and believes the in-form striker that help the Whites return to the top flight at the very first attempt.

The stand-in Fulham skipper told the Daily Mail:

"He's a handful to deal with, he causes so much trouble. He's not someone we enjoy dealing with in training. In training, he puts everything in and I have the bruises to prove it. I stay away from him as much as possible! I know what he brings ... I want to be fully fit and not in pain coming into games!

"When you know he's on his game, everything is going to come off. You can play the ball to him and it will stick or he can play someone in. If you put the right guys around him in games, it's a dangerous combination. We knew Mitrovic was staying before the contract announcement — it shows he is committed to the cause, and he's proved it in the last three or four games."

Ream reckons that all of his team-mates have the bit between their teeth after the disappointment of being relegated from the Premier League under Scott Parker last season.

"The entire squad has something to prove this season, not just Mitrovic. We want to be at the top of this division. We have put in the hard yards and we want to stay there. Getting relegated the way we did last season was embarrassing. We all have something to prove, not just one or two guys. We all came into pre-season with chips on our shoulders."



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2021/08/ream-delighted-by-mitrovics-extension/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham transfer round-up: Midfielder bid knocked back, Anguissa latest, player rejects Silva reunion

Fulham sit in 1st-place of the Championship table after the opening five games of the 2021/22 season.

Fulham go into the September international break joint-top of the Championship table, ahead of West Brom on goal difference after a fine start to the campaign under Marco Silva.

His side put in an impressive display to beat Stoke City 3-0 at Craven Cottage over the weekend and remain active in the transfer market ahead of Tuesday night's 11pm deadline.

Grimes running out
Pete Rutzler of The Athletic revealed over the weekend that Swansea City have rejected a £2.5million bid for Matt Grimes.

The Swans skipper has been closely linked with a move away from South Wales this summer with Fulham having been linked alongside a number of other names, including Bournemouth, Brighton and Watford.

It's the second bid that Fulham have seen turned down this summer.

Anguissa on the go?
Napoli are interested in taking Andre-Franck Zambo Anguissa on loan for the remainder of the 2021/22 season.

Anguissa prevailed for Fulham in the Premier League last season making 36 appearances and has since featured three times in the Championship.

But the Cameroonian international could depart Fulham whist they bid for an immediate return to the top flight and reports coming out of Italy suggest that Napoli have made contact regarding a possible loan move.

Carvalho says no
William Carvalho has turned down the chance to join Fulham on loan. Reports in Spain claim that the Real Betis man, who Silva managed during his time in charge of Sporting Lisbon, has rejected the opportunity to join the Whites for the 2021/22 campaign.

Betis are keen to offload the midfielder.



https://the72.co.uk/248683/fulham-transfer-round-up-midfielder-bid-knocked-back-anguissa-latest-player-rejects-silva-reunion/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham accept Napoli's Anguissa loan offer

Fulham have accepted Napoli's loan offer for midfielder Andre Frank Anguissa, according to reports from Italy this morning.

Sky Italia reporter Gianluca Di Marzio says that the Serie A club have struck a deal with Fulham for the Cameroonian international, which includes an option to buy. The 25 year-old is expected in Italy today for a medical ahead of the proposed transfer.

Anguissa, who has made 66 appearances in four years at Craven Cottage, told Fulham on the eve of the new season that he did not wish to play in the Championship and would prefer a move away. The Whites were hoping for interested parties, which also included Roma, to match their £20m valuation but have opted to reduce their financial fair play concerns by getting Anguissa's hefty wages off the books before the end of the transfer window.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2021/08/fulham-accept-napolis-anguissa-loan-offer/

[WhiteJC]

Anguissa undergoes Napoli medical

According to Sky Sport Italia, Fulham midfielder André Zambo Anguissa is undergoing his medicals with Napoli.

Napoli need a new central midfielder and with Tiemoue Bakayoko to Milan, Anguissa has emerged as the latest option for the Serie A giants.

According to Sky Sport Italia journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, the 25-year-old has reached a 'total agreement' over his new contract at the Stadio Maradona.

#Napoli, per il centrocampo bloccato #Anguissa: manca l'intesa con il #Fulham per la formula https://t.co/poCvWIgOzD

— Gianluca Di Marzio (@DiMarzio) August 29, 2021

Negotiations between the two clubs didn't take long as the Championship side tried to include an obligation to buy in the deal, but Napoli managed to close the agreement on loan with an option to buy for €10m.

According to the report, Anguissa has already landed in Italy and is undergoing his medicals with the Partenopei, who have six points after the first two Serie A games.

It's the second summer signing for the Azzurri, who have only signed Juan Jesus as a free agent so far. However, coach Luciano Spalletti is said to be satisfied with the team at his disposal.



https://football-italia.net/anguissa-agrees-personal-terms-with-napoli/

[WhiteJC]

Jack and Loz at the Cottage - Blog 186
Date: 28th August 2021

Opposition: Stoke

Score: 3-0

Goal Scorers: Wilson, De Cordova-Reid, 🔥

Weather: befitting an August bank holiday – cloudy and a little overcast

Atmosphere: happy, very, very happy

MOTM (football): the fact that we couldn't agree on this says it all. This only happens when we either: a) play really, really badly and it's impossible to pick anyone out for praise; or b) play really, really well and we're spoilt for choice - the scoreline tells you which one it was. The fact that Stoke's MOTM was clearly their goalie also hammers it home. It was a sublime team performance, with Bobby, Wilson and Mitro's link up play a delight to watch, Seri and Onomah commanding in midfield, and Ream stoic and cool as a cucumber in defence as he dictated the rhythm and flow of the game as Captain Fantastic. It could have been any of them but we're going for Wilson - slotting seamlessly back in on his return from suspension

MOTM (non-football): John Mitchell got the Forever Fulham award at half time. Only a lucky proportion of the Fulham faithful will remember our journey to the FA Cup Final in 1975. An adventure we can only dream (or read about in fiction....*) of repeating. John Mitchell played in that FA Cup Final team, scoring the winning goal in the last minute of extra time of the semi-final replay against Birmingham City.

Snacks: tea and rolos (Loz would give her last one to Mitro)

Well it ain't what you do, it's the way that you do it. And that's what gets results.

So this was Fulham's first real test. Too early to be a six-pointer but Stoke have had a strong start to the season, coming into the match level on points with us, and they're not the long throw specialists of old. Their recent goal against Forest was a thing of beauty and finesse. The adage that anyone can beat anyone in Championship is a truism, but despite this, home fans were optimistic.

The game came on the back of a clinical two nil win in the week against Birmingham in the Carabao Cup. Marco made 10 changes for that match including a return for Rodak and a first team debut for Adrion Pajaziti. Such is our strength and depth that fans were asking whooo? Unironically.

So we faced Stoke not exactly expectant but quite cockily confident. We know pride comes before a fall and all that and we're normally sensible fans who don't get carried away – but it's impossible not to now. Sorry.

The loss of Tete to injury was disappointing but not as concerning as it might have been. Whatever league were in, whoever the manager is, Denis Odoi is always trusted to deliver. When his name was announced in the line-up it was met with a loud cheer and throughout the match there were chants of oi, oi, oi, Denis Odoi.

The other big cheer was for Mitro. The Premier League news this week might have been Ronaldo going back to Man Utd but our talisman never left. As he signed his new 5 year deal Mitro said Fulham is his home and to prove it, at the end of the match, he was straight over to the Hammy End. The love is mutual.

So what did we need to steady our nerves? An early goal, of course. And we got one. And it was exquisite. The initial crisp ball to Wilson from Antonee allowed him to slice through the midfield before passing to Bobby as he raced forwards. His pass to Mitro and the quick flick the back to Wilson was a move to terrify Championship defences.

Quite Frankly, (even though he wasn't on the pitch), after last season's goal drought and dearth of entertaining, attacking football, any old goal will do, but if we can have ones like this, so much the better.

Stoke, as we've said, are a good team, but we made them look decidedly average, taking a complete stranglehold on the match. The first half brought so many "shances" from almost every Fulham player (even Tosin had a shot) that we thought Gazzaniga might give it a go as he really didn't have much else to do. Many of the shots were from outside the box but the ones on target were only kept out by the prowess of the Stoke goalie. Here was the fast and frantic football that we have all so missed.

The ever versatile Bobby was having a good game on the left wing, linking up brilliantly with Wilson and Mitro who was emitting sparks all match. Seri and Onomah were being both creative and forceful in midfield, and Fabio was causing Stoke no end of difficulties.

The Stoke players thought Wilson was someone to antagonise after his recent sending off and they were trying to bait him but he didn't bite back. Their Lurch of a centre-back, Souttar, would have intimated most opposition players but Mitro brushed him off like a Head and Shoulders advert. The ref carelessly let the Stoke challenges go but that made for a high tempo, flowing game.

Even with all our shances, Stoke managed to keep it to one nil at the break. We were wasteful at times with too much passing around and too many long shots. We gave them acres of space on the left hand side which they made the most of when they could. That meant that despite our dominance, including winning a series of corners at the end of the half, we were far from being home and dry.

We have mentioned our Top of the League Problem before: a lack of goals at the Hammy End, but this Fulham team seems to be a gift that keeps on giving (for now at least – we really are trying not to get carried away!). Just 8 minutes into the second half, Bobby's goal, which was a follow up shot after Mitro's attempt was pushed away by the goalie, was just the ticket. The Cottage erupted.

Normally, even a two goal lead isn't enough to make the average Fulham fan feel comfortable, but Saturday was different. After that second goal, the result was never in doubt. With or without the ball, we bossed the game in a way that the match stats don't truly reflect.

There were shances for more, with a Wilson shot hitting the post (from where we stood, we thought it had gone in), but that close miss was made up for by a goal from Mitro. It was a fantastic ball in from Bobby to Wilson on the far post that came out to the ever prowling Mitro. His defender didn't have a hope of preventing him from tapping it in for our third.

Marco got the subs right. It was great to see Reed back from injury coming on for Carvalho and wearing KMac's no.6 shirt. Kebano charged on with just three minutes left and he made an impact almost immediately, flying down the right-hand side, picking up a lovely ball from Onomah, and winning a penalty when he was taken down in the box. Mitro stepped up but it wasn't the best effort and it was easily saved. With hindsight, maybe Kebano should have taken it instead. Whilst the miss didn't matter, it is the only blemish on an otherwise flawless performance. And sooner or later there will be another penalty. And it will matter.

Random musings:-

- Stoke fans were united in the applause for the players taking the knee

- Marco doesn't keep his Mediterranean Casual look for just evening matches – he's definitely sticking with the lucky black jumper

- at the other end of the colour spectrum, few people look as good in fuchsia pink as Gazzaniga. We're very jealous of whoever he gave his top to

- will Joe Bryan play football again or will he be forever warming up and giving the fans an occasional wave?

- much was made by fans of Seri kissing the badge. The test will be the close of the transfer window in just a few days' time

- on the other hand, it was notable that there was no cheer for Frank - everyone's assuming he's a goner.

It was life-affirming to hear and feel the oohs, aahs and cheers at the Cottage. The hope and happiness is back. The only disappointment is the timing of the international break, just when we're getting into our groove, just when our fires are being stoked. But this time we have nothing to fear.

Don't let us hear you say life's taking you nowhere. We liked Scott, but the manner of his departure was unbecoming, and we have no doubt that we've traded-up with Marco Silva. We know we've struck gold, and with nuggets like this we could just be in for some golden years.

* www.Amazon.co.uk/dp/1916898505/




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