Saturday Fulham Stuff - 02/10/21...

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Results

Friday
Stoke	1-0	West Brom

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Sheffield United: Scott Parker is now 'my rival' says Slavisa Jokanovic
SLAVISA JOKANOVIC may profess to having an interest in the coaching development of someone he knows well in Scott Parker, but that will be on hold for 90 minutes tomorrow.

The Sheffield United chief appointed Parker, now managing joint Championship leaders Bournemouth, to his coaching staff in his time at Fulham and has watched his development intently since he left London.

The pair lock horns on the south coast tomorrow and Jokanovic has firmly cast aside any 'Master versus Apprentice' connotations.

He said: "He has done a good job and he did before with Fulham and I am happy with his progress in his coaching career.

"We have good relations, but he will do everything to win the game and I will do the same and that's it.

"I have a good collaboration (with him) and he has grown up like a coach and is trying to make himself better every day.

"He was my captain (at Fulham) and was then my assistant and he is now my rival and it is part of the work. For me, it is not difficult and won't be for him and it is normal.

"We are in some competition and we both want to win. More or less, he knows the philosophy of how I want to play the game and my targets to achieving it in a game.

"He will follow a lot of the things we made all together and he may try and find my style with different players. But now he is my rival.

"Of course, he will try and check our weaknesses and I will try and see the weakness of the opposite team. This is a natural thing.

"I am not thinking about Scott Parker, but a Scott Parker team."

Another reunion tomorrow could see fit-again Blades striker Lys Mousset face his former club, having left the Cherries to join United in 2019.

The Frenchman had been sidelined since suffering a hamstring injury in the opening-day defeat to Birmingham City at Bramall Lane – which represented a major downer after a positive pre-season.

Jokanovic added: "Lys had a really good pre-season after a lot of effort after some barriers before when he was not so happy.

"He showed an attitude that he wanted to improve, but we lost him in the first game.

"After working alone and in the physio room, he comes back onto the pitch and starts to work with the team. He has collaborated and in this way, he is strong enough to be a really important player for the team."



https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-united/sheffield-united-scott-parker-is-now-my-rival-says-slavisa-jokanovic-3403302

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Napoli not interested in early deal for Fulham loanee Anguissa, reveals key club figure
Fulham midfielder Andre Zambo Anguissa's deal with Napoli will not be made permanent early, club director Cristiano Giuntoli has said.

Recently, reports claimed that Serie A side Napoli could look to turn Andre Zambo Anguissa's loan move into a permanent deal in January, six months before the end of his temporary spell with the club.

The Fulham loanee's deal includes a €15m option for a permanent move, though it was stated Napoli could look to get it done early.

Now, amid the claims, club director Cristiano Giuntoli has moved to make the club's stance public, insisting that it would be "absurd" to do so.

As quoted by Football Italia, Giuntoli said there is no need to bring the move forward, confirming that a clause is in place for June. Here's what he had to say on the matter:

"There's no need," Giuntoli said.

"As there is a set release clause in June, so it would be absurd to pay money earlier."

With Napoli's stance on the recent reports now clear, it awaits to be seen if Anguissa can warrant a permanent move to Gli Azzurri with some strong performances over the 2021/22 campaign.

Impressing away from Craven Cottage
Since departing Marco Silva's side Anguissa has enjoyed a strong start to life in Italy, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see Napoli exercise the option to sign the Cameroon international permanently.

Across all competitions, the 25-year-old midfielder has played six times for Luciano Spalletti's side, playing all 90 minutes in all four Serie A games so far, helping them to four wins in the process.

He has also seen action on the European stage, playing in Europa League ties against Leicester City and Spartak Moscow.



https://the72.co.uk/252051/napoli-not-interested-in-early-deal-for-fulham-loanee-anguissa-reveals-key-club-figure/

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'Some parts of his game' – Fulham boss shares thoughts on Mitrovic ahead of Coventry City clash

Fulham boss Marco Silva says there are 'definitely' some areas of Aleksandar Mitrovic's game where he can improve, after scoring a hat-trick v Swansea City earlier this week.

Mitrovic, 27, has been with Fulham for the past four-and-a-half seasons now. In that time, the Serb has endured ups and downs in front of goal having scored just three in the Premier League last time round but finding himself with 10 in 10 in the Championship.

He put three past the Swans in midweek to secure a 3-1 win for Silva's side, and ahead of this weekend's clash v Coventry City, the Portuguese manager had this to say on Mitrovic:

Few more quotes from Silva earlier. Is Mitro the finished article?
"Definitely there are some parts of his game that he can improve. All the players, even the best in the world, having something to improve."

— Peter Rutzler (@peterrutzler) September 30, 2021

In 121 appearances for the Whites, Mitrovic has scored 51 goals. He's long been a fan favourite at Craven Cottage but he's also been no stranger to criticism, especially so whilst playing in the Premier League.

But in the Championship, Mitrovic never fails to deliver – he's so clinical in front of goal, and dominating in the final third making him arguably the most difficult striker to play against in the division.

This weekend, Fulham travel to Coventry City. Silva's side go into this one in 3rd-place whilst Mark Robins sees his side in 4th following a 5-0 humbling away at Luton Town in midweek.

The Sky Blues will be gunning for a response following that defeat and they'll no doubt give Fulham a headache this weekend, who've had one or two disappointing results on the road this season.

Mitrovic goes into this weekend as the league's leading goal-scorer and as ever, he could be the difference.



https://the72.co.uk/252077/some-parts-of-his-game-fulham-boss-shares-thoughts-on-mitrovic-ahead-of-coventry-city-clash/

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Mark Robins issues stark warning as Coventry City prepare to face the full force of Fulham

The Sky Blues are looking to bounce back from their midweek thrashing at Luton, hoping to maintain their 100 per cent home record in the Championship

Coventry City fans will be hoping Wednesday night's 5-0 humiliation is a one off.

Heavy defeats are, thankfully, a rare occurrence – the last time the Sky Blues were on the end of a league spanking being some 15 years ago when they lost by the same scoreline at West Bromwich Albion.

But manager Mark Robins has warned that with the quality of some of the teams in the division that it could happen again.

"That's the Championship," said the City boss, "and you can't say it ain't going to happen again because it could well happen again.

"You look at the teams in the division, West Brom, Bournemouth and Fulham. There are some really good, powerful sides and if you're not right there's a danger of that happening."

Ominously, City face recently relegated Fulham this weekend in Saturday's early televised kick-off (12.30pm) when the Sky Blues are looking to extend their 100 per cent winning run at the Coventry Building Society Arena to six games.

Marco Silva's men will provide the biggest threat yet to that unblemished home record, and travel with the confidence of a 3-1 midweek win over Swansea behind them.

And City's shell-shocked defence will have to stop the full force of star man Aleksandar Mitrovic who bagged a hat-trick against the Swans to take the Serbia international's domestic tally to 10 so far this term.

That result – their sixth victory of the campaign – moved them up to third place in the division, a point and place above Coventry who have had an equally impressive start to the new season aside from Wednesday night's aberration at Kenilworth Road.

"That's why you don't get carried away because the division is very tough," said Robins, well aware that expectations have shot up after such an exciting start to the season.

"There are still a lot of young players in the team that are still learning. This brings us back down to earth with a bump, more than a bump.

"When you lose like that it's embarrassing. There's no getting away from it, it's an embarrassment.

"And the players have got to feel some of that and make sure it doesn't happen again like this again in their careers.

"It certainly will, because it does, but you have to make sure it happens a lot fewer times than you give supporters a lot of pleasure.

"We have done pretty well to start with and we just have to make sure we don't allow this to take the wind out of our sails too much."



https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/football-news/coventry-city-fulham-championship-robins-21730413

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Kebano starts: The predicted Fulham XI to face Coventry City tomorrow

After a frustrating set of games since the international break, Fulham will be hoping to take all three points from their final fixture before the next interval against a high-flying Coventry City side.

Despite convincing victories against Birmingham City and Swansea this month, avoidable losses against Blackpool and Reading and a frustrating away draw at Ashton Gate against Bristol City left them two points adrift of the automatic promotion spots.

This is no disaster considering they're still in a decent position and are firmly in contention for the return to the Premier League – but their defensives performances and how clinical they are up front will determine how successful they will be this term – and will likely be the difference between a finish in the top two and a play-off scrap.

The Cottagers may have won a spot in the top flight at the end of the 2019/20 campaign via a trip to Wembley, but at least one of AFC Bournemouth, West Brom and Sheffield United would be likely to be in the play-offs with them and any of the trio would have a chance of overcoming a very Fulham side.

Marco Silva's men need to put promotion beyond all doubt by securing a top-two spot in May – but they can only do that by concentrating on themselves and winning their games – starting against Coventry who were beaten 5-0 at Luton in midweek and will be hoping to produce a strong reaction.

With this match kicking off at 3pm tomorrow, we have selected the Fulham lineup we think Silva will go with.

After a decent team performance at the weekend, it's hard for us to make any changes as they look to continue from where they left off on Wednesday night. Consistency will be key, so a consistent team could be the recipe needed for success.

Paulo Gazzaniga starts in goal again as a shrewd free signing in the summer after his release from Tottenham Hotspur.

Denis Odoi also remains in the team at right-back in Kenny Tete's absence, although the Dutchman is closing in on a return, so it will be interesting to see whether the former can retain his place after the international break.

Tim Ream and Tosin Adarabioyo continue at the heart of defence, although a solid substitute appearance from Alfie Mawson may give Marco Silva a headache throughout the 2021/22 campaign and is another capable centre-back option they can utilise.

Joe Bryan was forced off against Swansea in midweek because of a back injury, although manager Silva sounds confident about his potential return in time for tomorrow afternoon, so he is looking likely to start ahead of Antonee Robinson who has injury worries of his own.

It's a shame Bryan has been behind Robinson in the pecking order, because he has so much to bring to this team.

Nathaniel Chalobah is one man who remains out of action with a leg issue, so the central midfield duo of Harrison Reed and Jean Michael Seri link up again, a dream pairing to have in the middle with Josh Onomah also available as a potential option to come off the bench.

Starting £12m-man Harry Wilson in the trio behind the striker is a no brainer, but there are a few options to play with for the other two spots.

Because of their victory, that requirement for consistency and Aleksandar Mitrovic's comments on the importance of having familiar players like Neeskens Kebano and Bobby Decordova-Reid alongside him, the duo keep their spots.

Ivan Cavaleiro and summer signing Domingos Quina will be available as substitutes though and the latter will be especially keen to make his mark at Craven Cottage after not receiving a regular amount of playing time with previous club Watford at Vicarage Road.

Mitrovic keeps his spot up top to complete the lineup, although it would be good to see Rodrigo Muniz heavily involved at some point. We haven't seen a lot of him yet – and he deserves to get his chance to shine at some point. It will be hard to displace the Serbian though.

Predicted Substitutes: Rodak, Hector, Mawson, Onomah, Quina, Cavaleiro, Muniz



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/kebano-starts-the-predicted-fulham-xi-to-face-coventry-city-tomorrow/

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Mark Pembridge leaves Fulham after 18 years following restructure

Pembridge played and then coached for Fulham

MARK PEMBRIDGE has left Fulham after 18 years following a major revamp of roles in their Academy.

The Welshman played 54 games for the Cottagers between 2003 and 2007 and then moved onto their coaching staff. He started coaching with the club's Under-15s and 16s, before becoming U18s and finally U23s Head Coach, a role he held in tandem with Colin Omogbehin.

Omogbehin was appointed first-team development coach in July.Steve Wigley, who has a long association with Fulham's Academy, moves up from U18s lead to take the 23. He will also continue in his position as Head of Player Development.

Charlie Turnbull, who was previously a Youth Development Phase coach and ball-striking specialist, will be Wigley's assistant with the U23s.

Elsewhere, Head of Education Sean Culley has been appointed Academy Manager, with Mick Cave continuing as Academy Director following his own promotion in July.

READ MORE: Jennings appointed Fulham Head of Football Development

Youth Development Phase Manager Andrew Watt has stepped up to become Head of Football Operations, with Marcus Herron going from Foundation Phase Manager to Pathway and Talent ID Manager.

Ali Melloul moves up from U18s assistant to U18s lead, replacing Wigley, while Andy Joslin will be his assistant (as well as the U15s/16s lead).

Head of Coaching Ben Bartlett "will extend his responsibilities to include line management of full-time and part-time academy outfield coaches across the pathway," the club said.

Pembridge, who won 54 caps for Wales, represented Luton Town, Derby County, Sheffield Wednesday, Benfica and Everton in a high-profile playing career.

In an interview last year he said: "The most rewarding thing is seeing them (young players) progress. You teach them on the training pitch with little pointers and individual bits that help them go on to reach the next level. Every individual is different and every individual needs different things to succeed."

FULL CHANGES:

Leadership:

    Academy Director: Mick Cave
    Academy Manager: Sean Cullen
    Head of Football Development: Huw Jennings
    Head of Football Operations: Andrew Watt
    Pathway & Talent ID Manager: Marcus Herron
    Head of Academy Goalkeeping: Vic Bettinelli

U23s:

    Head Coach: Steve Wigley
    Goalkeeper Coach: Geoff Warne
    Analyst & assistant: Charlie Turnbull

U18s:

    Head Coach: Ali Melloul
    Assistant: Andy Joslin



https://trainingground.guru/articles/mark-pembridge-leaves-fulham-after-18-years-following-restructure

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Mitrovic can still improve, says Fulham boss

Aleksandar Mitrovic is not the finished article, says Fulham boss Marco Silva.

The striker netted a first-half hat-trick to sink Swansea this week and move top of the Championship scorers' list.

Silva insists work in and around the box is at least one area in which the man in form can do even better.

Silva said: "Are there things he can improve? Definitely, there are things he can improve.

"All the best players have something to improve. Mitro has to be there to finalise – he has the same (favourite) spot in the box where he is strong, (but) we are working with him on his position in the box.

"We are working with him to attack more at not just the far post but other areas as well. It's up to us to get the best for him and keep him improving."

Fulham, third in the Championship, face Coventry on Saturday.

They will again be without youngster Fabio Carvalho, who is still recovering from injury.



https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/fulham-boss-silva-explains-where-mitrovic-still-needs-to-improve

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Marco Silva provides Fulham injury update on four players ahead of Coventry test

Marco Silva has confirmed that Fabio Carvalho will miss Fulham's trip to Coventry City tomorrow, whilst they could also be without a specialist left-back.

The Cottagers have enjoyed a strong start to the season, and they head to the Midlands sitting in third place, above the Sky Blues by a place and a point.

However, they do have a few injury worries going into the clash, with Silva telling West London Sport that the game will come too soon for the talented Carvalho, as he also opened up on the left-back problems he has.

"Antonee Robinson wasn't comfortable playing (against Swansea). It was something in his knee, but nothing special. Joe Bryan had a big impact on his back and it was really stiff at half time, and the beginning of the second half. Today, he's doing better than yesterday.

"Fabio is working with the team. Today he worked again. He had a good session. Now is for him to get in the best physical condition to play, and we expect to see him after the international break. Chalobah felt something in the first half at Bristol City. He hasn't worked with the team since then."

The verdict

It's a shame that Carvalho won't be involved because the teenager was outstanding in the early part of the season and he brings a lot to the team.

But, they've picked up results without the youngster in recent games, so the bigger issue for Silva will be the left-back problem if Robinson and Bryan don't make it.

The boss does seem confident that one will play, but even so, Fulham will have a quality XI out on the pitch that is capable of getting a win against a tough opponent.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/marco-silva-provides-fulham-injury-update-on-four-players-ahead-of-coventry-test/

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Is there a space in our midfield for Josh Onomah?
Sean gives his frank and honest assessment of Onomah's SW6 tenure so far.

In the space of the past year Josh Onomah's gone from missing out on Scott Parker's Premier League squad to starting in Marco Silva's.

Benefitting from our return to the Championship, the 24-year-old has, at times, looked worthy of the opportunity. Impressive performances against Middlesbrough and Huddersfield suggest he's grown as a player while sub-par outings against Millwall, Blackpool and Bristol City raise questions about his consistency in the middle of the park.

Following the arrivals of Domingos Quina and Nathaniel Chalobah and the return of Harrison Reed, Onomah faces increased competition for playing time in a midfield that also needs to accommodate a rejuvenated Jean Michaël Seri, the precocious talent of wunderkind Fabio Carvalho and, perhaps at some point, club captain Tom Cairney.

So let's take a closer look at Onomah's evolution during his time with the Whites and what he needs to do to keep developing.

Driving force

When Fulham acquired Onomah as part of the Ryan Sessegnon deal expectations were low. As Ben pointed out in July 2020, "The perception was that Onomah was a textbook Daniel Levy 'sweetener' in the deal" and that he "only joined the Whites because he was a player that Parker knew."

After a slow start underpinned by a lack of fitness and an inability to make an impact off the bench, Onomah began to find his rhythm as a starter in late November. The deciding goal he scored in our hard-fought home win against Leeds just before Christmas gave him a much-needed confidence boost as he carved out a role for himself in a midfield that Parker tinkered with all season long.

Playing alongside some combination of Harrison Reed, Tom Cairney, Stefan Johansen and/or Harry Arter, Onomah regularly attempted to drive us forward, averaging two take-ons completed per game (compared to second-best Cairney's 1.3) with a success rate of 68.75%, according to Squawka. His presence gave us glimpses of an attacking impetus that defied Parkerball, making it more back to front than side to side. It was his post-lockdown promotion to a more attacking role that offered even greater freedom that brought the best out of Onomah though, adding both goals (such as this off-balance strike against Birmingham) and assists (like this perfectly-weighted through ball against Sheffield Wednesday) to his repertoire.

And yet it was his Messi-esque worldie in the first leg of the play-off semi-final against Cardiff that really came to epitomise his potential, pointing to what felt like a bright future ahead.

Bouncing back

Onomah, of course, suffered a set back ahead of the 2020/21 season as injury kept him out of the squad for the first half of the season and hindered any hope he may have had of making a significant contribution in the second.

Determined to bounce back strong, he flew out of the traps this season, creating Harry Wilson's goal in our home opener against Middlesbrough following an intelligent run into the right channel. Operating, on paper, as part of a midfield three that saw he and, most often, Seri sit deep with Carvalho in the number 10 role, Onomah looked sensational at times through our first five games.

During that stretch he benefitted from the movement of Carvalho and the ever-present threat of Alexander Mitrovic, frequently drifting into attacking positions not dissimilar to those he occupied towards the back end of the 2019/20 season. His ability to cause problems for opposing defences was evident in the link up play with Kenny Tete that resulted in a headed opportunity for Neeskins Kebano against Middlesbrough as well as his driving run, which eventually led to the fourth goal against Huddersfield. He was also a source of key passes during that stretch too, averaging one per game, including this through ball against Stoke, which should have been converted by Wilson.

The toe injury sustained by Carvalho then changed our entire dynamic. With space at a premium against a stodgy Blackpool defence, neither Onomah or Quina, who replaced the teenager in the starting line-up, made much of an impact. Onomah did produce one of Fulham's better chances – a left-footed shot from just over 20 yards out that went just wide – but otherwise struggled to get into the game, recording just 46 touches – 10.4 less than his season average to that point.

His performance that day was reminiscent of his lacklustre outing against Millwall earlier in the season, where he registered just 42 touches, and was repeated more recently against Bristol City (30 touches), where his impact was so minimal that he was hooked at half time. Somewhat unsurprisingly, he was then benched for Wednesday night's game against Swansea as Silva looked to inject some life back into his ailing midfield to great effect.

Room for Josh? You bet

While Onomah's time at Fulham has been a rollercoaster to date, he's clearly evolving as a player. At just 24, he possesses a rare combination of poise and power that allows him to influence games in a way that other members of our current crop cannot.

Clearly, there are opponents and situations that suit him better than others and it's important that Silva – as he did on Wednesday – recognises that, particularly over the long, hard slog of a Championship season. If utilised against opponents who come out and play us, Onomah can be hugely influential. He is, after all, a willing ball carrier who's never afraid to have a crack (see his two long-range efforts against Leeds in the Carabao Cup) in addition to being the kind of player who benefits from having a license to roam.

From a developmental perspective, it's important that he keeps getting playing time though, and if he can learn to adapt his game to opponents that sit back and soak up the space and become a more effective contributor off the bench, that shouldn't be an issue.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2021-10-01-is-there-a-space-in-our-midfield-for-josh-onomah/

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Up next: Coventry City (a)

After getting back to winning ways in midweek courtesy of a first half hat-trick from Aleksandar Mitrovic, Fulham face an intriguing trip to the Championship's early season surprise package, Coventry City, in their final fixture before another international break. The hosts, who boast a flawless home record, suffered the first setback of a superb season so far when they were thrashed 5-0 at Luton on Wednesday night and the experienced Mark Robins – probably one of the country's most underrated managers at present – will be determined to make sure that was merely a blip.

The Sky Blues will certainly be formidable opposition on their home turf, having taken fifteen points from their five games back at what is now known as the Coventry Building Society Arena. The impact of being able to play at their permanent home again, after years of exile prompted by the SISU shenanigans, can't be understated when analysing such an outstanding start to the new campaign. Successful recruitment over the summer, sticking with Robins – who has guided the club to promotion from both League Two and League One – and proving that they can mix it at this level last season have all helped to generate a sense of optimism around the club arguably not seen since they were regularly surprising the Premiership's big boys under Gordon Strachan.

Robins has largely stuck with the 3-4-1-2 formation that saw City secure the League One title and establish themselves at this level. That consistency in selection and methods is one of the main reasons why his side have amassed eight more points than at this time last season and have also established a hefty buffer between themselves and the relegation zone. Robins has refused to get carried away after a fantastic start, but it is reasonable to suggest that the Sky Blues should be readjusting their sights towards the top of the Championship table.

Before the Kenilworth Road horror show, Coventry had conceded just six goals in 810 minutes of Championship football, and their back three has been superbly marshalled by veteran Kyle McFadzean. Dominic Hyam's adept reading of the game has made him one of Coventry's most reliable performers in recent years, whilst Jake Clarke-Salter has began his loan spell from Chelsea impressively. Another Stamford Bridge loanee in Ian Maatsen offers both defensive diligence and a forward thrust from left wing back with Fankaty Dabo, also a Walham Green academy graduate, likely to return from suspension on the opposition flank.

The hosts will be without the influential Gustavo Hamer, who picked up a fifth booking in Buckinghamshire, with captain Liam Kelly likely to return to the engine room alongside Jamie Allen as a result. Fulham will need to watch the gifted Callum O'Hare, who has taken his fine finish to last term into the new campaign, and, whilst not being talked about too often by the pundits as one of the second tier's most accomplished attacking midfielders, he's finally showing the potential that saw him considered one of Aston Villa's most highly-rated academy prospects earlier in his career.

Swedish striker Viktor Gykores is the most obvious threat to Fulham's defence, having scored seven goals so far this season, after making his loan move from Brighton permanent in the summer. He has largely been paired with the experienced Martyn Waghorn up top, although the former Nottingham Forest forward Tyler Walker is also an option for Robins. Gykores has been particularly productive at home, with his intelligent movement and predatory instincts certain to keep Tim Ream and Tosin Adarabioyo on their toes.

Marco Silva's men banished the disappointment of a frustrating afternoon at Ashton Gate last week as Mitrovic scored a second Fulham hat-trick inside 45 minutes against Swansea, having missed three clear-cut chances to beat Bristol City in stoppage on Saturday. That victory lifted them up to third in the table and might have settled a few jitters in the camp, but the Portuguese head coach has already stressed the need to finish September's schedule strongly before the international break. Fulham looked threatening every time they came forward against the Swans, with Neeskens Kebano particularly lively down the left flank. The Congolese winger should be rewarded with a regular run in the team.

Silva suggested that the left back crisis might be a little less severe than initially feared last night. He will check on the fitness of Joe Bryan, who came off after injuring his back in the first half on Wednesday, and Antonee Robinson after today's training session but both are in contention to start at Coventry, which comes as a relief given Fulham had to see out the final 35 minutes against Swansea with a back three and Bobby Decordova-Reid at left wing back. The Whites will definitely be without Nathaniel Chalobah, who picked up a leg injury at Bristol City, and the exciting Fabio Carvalho – missing since the end of August with a fractured toe.

MY FULHAM XI (4-3-3): Rodak; Odoi, Bryan, Adarabioyo, Ream; Reed, Seri, Onomah; Kebano, Wilson, Mitrovic. Subs: Gazzaniga, Robinson, Mawson, Quina, Decordova-Reid, Cavaleiro, Muniz.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2021/10/up-next-coventry-city-a/

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NEWS: Matchday Guide for our Jimmy Hill Day game vs Fulham

Ahead of Saturday's lunchtime game against Fulham in the Sky Bet Championship, the Sky Blues have produced a matchday guide for fans attending the game.

The Sky Bet Championship game is a 12:30pm kick-off at the Coventry Building Society Arena.

This is our annual Jimmy Hill Day game when we celebrate the life of our legendary former manager and chairman, and former Fulham player, and raise money for his Legacy Fund.

A crowd of over 18,000 is expected and we advise fans to arrive early.

We expect cash turnstiles to be busy and we therefore also advise fans to arrive early when buying on the gate.

COVID Advice and Protocols:
Coventry City issued updated COVID Advice and Protocols for fans at the start of the season – this continues to apply for all our home games.

To summarise:

    Before you come to the game, we encourage fans to take a lateral flow test. This is not compulsory but would hopefully reduce the risk of transmission in the stadium.
    All fans are encouraged to wear face masks when at games - particularly when entering the stadium and walking around the concourse, as these are busy areas.
    We also encourage fans to continue social distancing wherever possible.
    There are increased hygiene measures, and fans are encouraged to wash their hands.
    In accordance with the current Government and EFL regulations, there is no requirement to provide proof of double vaccination to enter the stadium.

To see the full information for fans, click here

Currently, players are not appearing in the Family Zone or Lounges as part of our COVID protocols. We politely request that fans do not ask players/staff for selfies either inside or outside the stadium.

Fans are allowed to bring in their own small hand sanitiser with them to the game.

Buying tickets on matchday:

Saturday's game is a Category A fixture –Adult tickets are £30, with Concessions £20, Under 18s £15, JSB U16s £10 and JSB U13s FREE.

Tickets will be available to buy from the Ticket Office at the Coventry Building Society Arena, which opens at 9:30am on Saturday and will be open up until kick-off. This is cashless.

Sky Blues fans can buy at Cash Turnstiles 30 – 37 from 11am. There is no matchday price increase. We advise fans to arrive at least 15 minutes before kick-off when buying at Cash Turnstiles due to high demand.

Cash Turnstiles are located in the North-East corner of the stadium - shown below:

£1 from every ticket sold will go to the Jimmy Hill Legacy Fund.

Ticket Info for the game can be seen here

For any queries, please email [email protected] or call 0333 321 31 34

Fulham supporters are able to pay on the day at Cash Turnstiles 4 and 5 in the South Stand.

Ticket Collections and Queries:

Any ticket collections and queries for Sky Blues fans can be made at the Ticket Office from 9:30am on Saturday.

Fulham supporters can collect pre-purchased tickets from the away ticket collection booth at the rear of the South Stand.

Season Tickets:

Any Season Ticket holders who have not received their card or have lost it can arrange a paper ticket for the game. Please visit the Ticket Office to collect your ticket.

For queries in advance of the game, please visit the Ticket Office or email [email protected] . Any queries on the day of the game can be made in person at the Ticket Office.

Jimmy Hill Day:

This is our annual Jimmy Hill Day, where we celebrate the life of our legendary former manager and chairman, who of course also played for Fulham.

Members of Jimmy's family will be in attendance at the game, while there will be tributes on the scoreboard and in the matchday programme.

Jimmy Hill Legacy Fund

There will also be a collection for the Jimmy Hill Legacy Fund around the ground – all donations from Coventry City and Fulham fans are welcome, so please make sure you bring cash with you.

The Legacy Fund provides money for a range of good causes in Coventry, including for adults and children with disabilities, disadvantaged children and young people, our Family Zone and grant applications.



https://www.ccfc.co.uk/news/2021/october/news-matchday-guide-for-our-jimmy-hill-day-game-vs-fulham/

[WhiteJC]

Marco Silva underlines Fulham disadvantage ahead of Coventry City clash

Marco Silva is unhappy with the relentless schedule of the Championship ahead of his side's trip to face Coventry City on Saturday.

Even though Fulham have one of the best squads the second tier has ever seen and the international break follows this weekend, the Portuguese is still frustrated by the lack of recovery time for his players.

The Cottagers were 3-1 victors over Swansea City in midweek with Aleksandar Mitrovic netting a first half hat-trick. Peter Rutzler tweeted Silva's bemoaning of the calendar late on Thursday night.

Silva said: "When we play Wednesday, finish at 10pm, the players are not in a physical condition to play 12.30pm on Saturday. I'm 100 per cent sure that they will not be recovered. And not play at the intensity that a football match should be."

Fulham will be hoping to break back into the automatic promotion places on the cusp of the international break having regressed a bit in their finishing in recent weeks.

The floodgates opened on Wednesday evening with Mitrovic rising to the top of the scoring charts, possibly having one eye on Ivan Toney's record breaking 31 goals in the second tier last term.

The Sky Blues sit just one place behind Fulham but their confidence will have taken a hit from their crushing 5-0 loss at Luton Town last time out.

The Verdict

Marco Silva must have known what he was in for when he took a Championship job. The 46 game season is full on but that is the way it has always been.

Of all the managers in the second tier, Silva is the one who has the right to complain about the busy schedule the least. Fulham spent more money than the majority of Championship clubs combined in the summer and have assembled arguably the best and deepest squad the division has ever seen.

If any side have the tools to cope with the fixtures coming thick and fast it is Fulham. They can have no complaints if Coventry get the better of them and continue their 100% record at the CBS Arena on Saturday.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/marco-silva-underlines-fulham-disadvantage-ahead-of-coventry-city-clash/

[WhiteJC]

Where do Fulham stand at the end of September?

Fulham's fine victory over Swansea City in midweek lifted the Whites back to third in the table and took us to the ten game mark in the Championship, where perceptive pundits believe you can make an assessment about where teams might finish. Marco Silva's start defies a simple summary really, but I thought it was time to take stock of the up and downs by the River Thames so far.

The first observation is a further straightforward one but it is bears repeating: it is so great to be able to attend games in person again. I was one of the travelling fans at Ashton Gate and loved the Mitrovic show on Wednesday night. Away days are back and that's wonderful, while there's nothing quite like being at Craven Cottage under the lights. After the desolation of empty stadiums and watching football from home whilst working from home too, being back in stadiums still gives me a real lift.

If we were writing a report card on Fulham's first two months, I think it would conclude with that familiar teaching cliché: 'could do better'. That's largely because Silva's side have been maddeningly inconsistent of late. The opening weekend draw with Middlesbrough has encapsulated the frustrating elements of our season so far: comfortably in control of a game but letting three points slip away in the latter stages by not being clinical. We have struggled to break down a low block as the season as gone on and our finishing can leave an awful lot to be desire – the games against Reading and Bristol City demonstrated this clearly.

You still have a sense that Silva hasn't quite got the balance right in midfield. Much of that might be caused by the absence of Fabio Carvalho, who started the season so sensationally, and we certainly miss a dynamic number ten. Jean-Michael Seri's redemption has been the big surprise to date and while the Ivorian's ability makes him a cut above technically at this level, deploying him as the deepest-lying midfielder does seem fraught with danger. He can still lose the man he's meant to be tracking or let someone drift past him too easily, as happened at Bloomfield Road.

There's still a big debate raging about who should be in goal, although not with the man that matters. Silva has stuck by Paulo Gazzaniga and, while he has flapped at a few crosses and looked a little shaky when the ball has been played back to him, I feel the Argentine has done a decent job. He pulled off a couple of fine saves at Bristol City and, if the assistant referee had utilised his flag correctly, would have been lauded for a brilliant stop from Chris Martin before Kasey Palmer was able to tuck home the rebound.

Fulham have looked irresistible going forward at times, handing out a couple of drubbings, and when Silva's side hit top gear it seems like nobody can live with them. The performance at Huddersfield on that very first August away day showed what the Whites can do. Despite being down to ten men late on, where in the past we would have very definitely shut up down, Silva sent on another attacker and Ivan Cavaleiro added two goals to seal a comprehensive victory. Fulham looked just as devastating in the early stages at Millwall, but couldn't put the game to bed and were left clinging on after Benik Afobe's bizarre late strike.

There can be no doubting that the last international break severely disrupted Fulham's rhythm and Carvalho's toe problem robbed the side of its most exhilarating performance. In the teenager's absence, Silva has tried a number of different options in the number ten position – but none have seized their opportunity. The proven performer in Tom Cairney remains sidelined with knee problems and the alternatives have been scratchy at best. Domingos Quina is still adapting to his new surroundings and Fulham's style, which is why it was a surprise to see him start at Bloomfield Road. You can never fault Bobby Decordova-Reid's effort but he hasn't flourished behind the striker this term and seems to be struggling in front of goal. Josh Onomah had an excellent start to the season but isn't a natural 10 himself. Fulham have sorely missed the energy and vision of our gifted academy graduate, so hopefully Carvalho will be available for selection for the local derby with QPR as Silva has hinted at.

The head coach has to take some of the blame for not trusting the depth in his squad ahead of that Blackpool defeat, given that so many key players were coming back late from international duty. Fulham looked understandably lethargic but delivered the perfect response at Birmingham, even if the performance wasn't as the dominant as the eventual 4-1 scoreline suggested. There might be a mentality thing at play here: when the Whites go ahead early, they are usually able to pick up points but they have yet to come up with an answer after going behind. Against sides like Blackpool and Reading, who are content to sit in and use that low block to stifle Fulham's creativity, Silva's charges seem somewhat stumped. If they want to make an immediate return to the top flight, the head coach and his technical staff will need to find a solution – as they will face such an approach with increasingly regularity.

Despite only getting a point at Bristol City, I wasn't too disheartened with what I saw at Ashton Gate. We battered them and created countless chances to win the game – rather like the reverse to Reading. It would be much more worrying if Fulham were failing to create scoring opportunities, whilst the openings are coming, you always feel the goals will arrive too. I can't remember the last game I saw Fulham hit the bar three times and confirmation that our luck was truly out came when Palmer's equaliser was allowed to stand.

There was some criticism of Mitrovic's failure to grab all three points in Bristol, but Wednesday night was all about the superb Serbian striker. His first goal might have proved the old adage about decisions evening themselves out as he looked offside from Tim Ream's header, but he took it exceptionally well. His clever movement quickly doubled the lead with a sharp finish and the third goal was a joy to watch. The flowing team move from the back was reminiscent of how Slavisa Jokanovic's promotion winners would play through their opponents and Mitrovic finished with real authority. That kind of football is what Silva is searching for and if they can produce that level of quality consistently, I'm confident the Whites will remain to top of the table – and perhaps even pull away.

It is important to back up that victory with another three points at Coventry tomorrow lunchtime, although that will be easier said than done. The Sky Blues have been sensational back on home turf this season and Mark Robins will have worked them extra hard in the two days since a surprising 5-0 thumping at Luton. Ending their 100% start at home would be a real statement.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2021/10/where-do-fulham-stand-at-the-end-of-september/

[WhiteJC]

3 Fulham transfer decisions facing Silva in the coming weeks
Fulham have made a fine start to life under Marco Silva, but the Portuguese boss will face some pressing transfer decisions in the coming weeks with the January transfer window rapidly approaching.

Fulham sit in 3rd-place of the Championship table after 10 games of the season.

They picked up a 3-1 win at home to Swansea City in midweek to return to winning ways ahead of a weekend trip to 4th-place Coventry City.

The Whites look strong this season but there's definitely still some room for improvement, and also some names who have struggled so far this season and could be facing a potentially awkward January.

Here we look at three transfer decisions facing Fulham in the coming weeks.

Loan out Rodak?
Marek Rodak burst onto the scene at Fulham during the 2019/20 season. After several years in the club's youth ranks and several loan spells away from Craven Cottage he got his chance under Scott Parker, and didn't fail to impress.

But last time round he'd play no.2 to Alphonse Areola in the Premier League and over the summer just gone, Silva brought in Paulo Gazzaniga forcing Rodak into the no.2 spot.

He's a fine goalkeeper is Rodak. But his ability is being waste on the Fulham bench every week and with Fabricio as third-choice keeper, a loan move for Rodak may be best for all involved.

Anguissa future?
Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa joined Napoli on loan over the summer. The move is with the view to a permanent sale and reports have since suggested that Napoli could be interested in triggering that early.

But this week, Napoli director Cristian Giuntoli has said that his club won't be pursuing an early deal for the midfielder.

He extended his Fulham stay until 2024 before moving to Napoli, with the Italian club having the option to buy for a reported £9million.

Silva will need to think about Anguissa's Fulham future ahead of January and ready for any potential updates on Napoli's stance.

Attacking addition?
One things that sets Fulham apart from most in the Championship is the sheer strength in depth they have in their squad. But despite being the league's leading scorers with 22 so far this season, Silva could potentially do with another out-and-out scorer in his ranks.

Aleksandar Mitrovic has scored 10 of his side's 22 Championship goals this season. He's proving pivotal once again in the Championship but should he pick up an injury it'll leave the vastly inexperience Rodrigo Muniz to lead the line.

Although he looks a real prospect, Fulham are running a risky game having Mitrovic as their only recognised goal-scorer – Silva will have to pray that Mitrovic can maintain fitness throughout the season, but looking for some back-up in the January window might not be such a bad idea.



https://the72.co.uk/252110/3-fulham-transfer-decisions-facing-silva-in-the-coming-weeks/

[WhiteJC]

Bryan calls for 'consistency'

Joe Bryan has called on his Fulham team-mates to find some much needed consistency in the Championship by following a fine victory over Swansea with a win at Coventry City tomorrow.

The Whites ended a frustrating winless run with a 3-1 win over the Swans at Craven Cottage in midweek, inspired by Aleksandar Mitrovic's first half hat trick. Bryan insists that will count for nothing unless Fulham can back it up with another win in the Midlands – although Coventry have won five out of five on their home patch in a fine start to the season.

Bryan told FFC TV:

"Obviously, they've started brilliantly. I think they had a tough result last night. That's the Championship for you. We know that we can win four games in a row and then get three or four stuck past you. We've had a couple of tough results in this little block of games but if we can take the point on Saturday, three points on Wednesday and get a victory on Saturday, I think we'll look back on it as a good run of games.

"I think when you play for Fulham, you have to understand that we're a very, very talented and good team in this division. You respect the opposition, of course, because they are where there are for a reason, but we know that we've got an abundance of quality. Not just the starting eleven, I think you've seen over the last few weeks with injuries, playing coming in and doing well, we've got real quality in depth and we've got to show it with consistency. You can't show it with spurts, we make to sure we can nail down that consistency now."



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2021/10/bryan-calls-for-consistency/

[WhiteJC]

Marco Silva makes honest admission about Fulham man's absence ahead of Coventry clash

Fulham manager Marco Silva has admitted that Steven Sessegnon will need to showcase his talent in training if he is to force his way into contention for a place in the club's match-day squad for their upcoming clashes.

The full-back has seen his game-time limited in recent years due to the presence of Denis Odoi, Kenny Tete and Cyrus Christie.

Yet to make an appearance for Fulham this season in the Championship, Sessegnon has been used exclusively by the club at Under-23 level in recent months.

With the Cottagers set to face Coventry City tomorrow, the defender may be forced to watch on from the sidelines for this fixture after missing two days of training this week.

Fulham will be hoping to seal another victory in the second-tier on Saturday after defeating Swansea City on Wednesday.

Currently third in the Championship standings, the Cottagers could potentially move into the automatic promotion places by securing all three points at the Coventry Building Society Arena.

Making reference to Sessegnon, Silva has admitted that his absence from action has been partly due to injuries and has suggested that the defender will need to prove his worth in training if he is to feature for the senior side this season.

Speaking to West London Sport about the defender, the Fulham boss said: "He has competition (at right-back) – and not just one, two or three players.
"Unfortunately, even in this short time I'm here, he's got some small injuries that are stopping him.
"He's not a player who can keep stopping (and hope to progress), and even before me he got injuries and Covid as well.

"These last two days, he didn't work with the team again.

"He has to try and keep fit and work as hard as he can.

"He cannot be in and out every single week, because if he wants to match his team-mates in this position he has to work really hard.

"He's been unlucky, and he has quality, but he needs to show this every single day."

The Verdict

When you consider that Fulham have a plethora of options to choose from at right-back, Sessegnon may find it difficult to force his way into the club's starting eleven this season.

If he fails to make an impression for the Cottagers in the coming months, the defender may find it beneficial to seek a temporary exit from the club.

By joining a lower league side who are capable of providing him with the guarantee of regular first-team football, Sessegnon could potentially make considerable strides in terms of his development.

Providing that Fulham are able to produce a positive display against Coventry this weekend, they could use the confidence gained from this result to push on in the Championship after the international break.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/marco-silva-makes-honest-admission-about-fulham-mans-absence-ahead-of-coventry-clash/

[WhiteJC]

Coventry Matchday Preview



The opposition

    After finishing in a respectable 16th in their first season back in the Championship, Coventry are well placed to build on that success this time around, sitting fourth after 10 matches, one point behind Fulham.
    Mark Robins returned to the club for a second spell as manager in March 2017, in which time he has secured two promotions, as well as winning the EFL Cup shortly after his appointment.
    Considering their terrific start to the campaign, Wednesday's 5-0 defeat by Luton Town came as something of a shock. They have won six league matches, though, so Sky Blues fans will hope it was just a blip.

Coventry team news

Centre-back Josh Pask and midfielder Josh Eccles are Coventry's only absentees at the weekend.

Fulham team news

Nathaniel Chalobah will not feature on Saturday due to a hamstring injury. Joe Bryan and Antonee Robinson are both in contention having shaken off knocks, but Tom Cairney, Kenny Tete and Terence Kongolo remain out. Fabio Carvalho could return after the international break.

Tickets

Advance tickets go off sale at 3pm on Friday, but Coventry will be selling on the day, cash only from turnstiles 1-5.

FFCtv

As the match is being broadcast on Sky Sports, we are not permitted to stream it. Live commentary will be available to FFCtv subscribers.

Weather

There is a good chance it will rain throughout the game. Temperatures will be about 12 degrees.

Jimmy Hill Day

Fans are encouraged to meet at the Jimmy Hill statue at midday to celebration the great man's contributions to both clubs.

Player insight

Joe Bryan has been impressed by Coventry this season, but wants Fulham to sign off before the international break in the best way possible.

"They've started brilliantly," he told FFCtv. "They had a tough result on Wednesday, but that's the Championship for you. We know that you can win four games in a row, and then get three or four stuck past you.

"We've had a couple of tough results in this little block of games but if we can take the point from Saturday, the three points from midweek, and get a good result on Saturday, I think we'll look back on it as a positive run of games."

Form

Coventry: WWDWL

Fulham: WLD*DW

*Lost on penalties

Pre-match quotes

"Mitrović is the best striker in the division. He scored a hat-trick out of really three chances in the first half and took the game away from Swansea."

Mark Robins
Coventry Manager

"With the intensity that they will push with, we have to match it in that situation. They had a tough result, but we know in the Championship that every match is different."

Marco Silva
Fulham Head Coach

https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2021/september/Coventry-Matchday-Preview/

[WhiteJC]

Pre-Coventry Press Conference

Marco Silva will not be reading too much into Coventry City's hefty midweek defeat when he takes his Fulham side to the West Midlands.

The Sky Blues had started the season superbly, but were given a reality check when Luton Town beat them 5-0 on Wednesday.

When asked if that's a good or a bad thing ahead of our lunchtime kick-off, Silva replied: "Going into the game, we don't look at this situation to be honest.

"We analyse them, not because they lost the last game by a bigger score, or because they did really well the previous games. That's not the way we prepare for the games.

"We prepare by looking at them, the strengths and the weaknesses they have, and we have to prepare ourselves for the match.

"We have to try to be, again, a strong side on the pitch, with character, personality, and the courage to play football.

"With the intensity that they will push with, we have to match it in that situation. They had a tough result, but we know in the Championship that every match is different.

"We will respect them, we have looked at their whole season they've played so far, not just their last match."

Coventry have been untouchable on their own patch so far, taking the maximum 15 points available to them.

"For sure, it will be a really difficult game for us," Silva admitted. "They are really strong at home, they are achieving very good results at home this season.

"Really tough side to play against, we will need the best of Fulham Football Club to go there, to match them and to win the game, because our goal is to win the match."



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2021/october/Pre-Coventry-Press-Conference/

[WhiteJC]

Changes at the back and midfield dilemma - predicted Coventry City XI to take on Fulham

The Sky Blues are looking to bounce back from their midweek mauling by Luton when they take on Fulham on home soil

Mark Robins will be forced into at least one change to his Coventry City side for the visit of Fulham to the CBS Arena.

The two sides meet for the first time in Coventry in the league in almost 54 years – the last encounter being a 3-0 Highfield Road defeat in the old First Division, back in November 1967.

Out goes Gustavo Hamer after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season in the mid-week mauling at Luton Town, leaving a key role to be filled in midfield.

Elsewhere, the Sky Blues are boosted by the availability of star wing-back Fankaty Dabo who has completed his three match suspension after being sent off against Cardiff City.

But the City boss may well feel minded to make unforced changes after his players' dreadful display at Kenilworth Road.

To be fair to goalkeeper Simon Moore, he was arguably left exposed by his outfield team-mates for all five of the goals, the first of which was from the penalty spot.

And having made an impressive start to his Coventry career, a change is highly unlikely.

The back three is more problematic, however, with Kyle McFadzean and Jake Clarke-Salter playing a part in a number of the goals conceded, and the former making way for Michael Rose just after the hour at Kenilworth Road.

Given how impressive McFadzean has been so far this term, it's hard to see the dominant 34-year-old centre-back and stand-in skipper being dropped, particularly given the physical threat of 10-goal Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Rose is the only current alternative option available and it will be interesting to see if he comes in for either of the defenders against the Cottagers.

Given Dabo's quality it's hard not to see him making an immediate return to the starting line-up in place of Todd Kane. The deadline day signing from QPR impressed against Peterborough in his second game covering for the former Chelsea man but, like the rest of his team-mates, dipped well below the expected levels against the Hatters.

And with no real contenders on the left, it's difficult to see a change at left wing-back where Ian Maatsen has been very impressive overall.

As for who fills the gaping hole left by Hamer in the middle of the park, there are three players vying for the two available slots, assuming Robins sticks with the same formation.

Jamie Allen and Ben Sheaf have been battling it out to play alongside the Brazilian and Robins could play both this weekend.

However, this might just be the right time to put influential skipper Liam Kelly back in to the starting line-up to help steady things after Wednesday's bruising defeat.

Callum O'Hare is fully expected to continue in the hole behind the front two, but Robins still has four fit strikers from which to choose.

Viktor Gyokeres is likely to be one and then it's just a question of whether the manager freshens things up with either Tyler Walker or Matty Godden coming in for the experienced head of Martyn Waghorn.

Predicted City line-up: Moore; Hyam, McFadzean, Clarke-Salter; Dabo, Allen, Kelly, Maatsen; O'Hare; Gyokeres, Waghorn.



https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/football-news/coventry-city-fulham-predicted-team-21734998