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Wednesday Fulham Stuff - 06/10/21...

Started by WhiteJC, October 06, 2021, 12:06:34 AM

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WhiteJC

Harry Wilson at Fulham: How's it gone so far? What issues does he face? What's next?

Expectations were high when Fulham spent big to land the signature of Harry Wilson in the summer.

Wilson was never able to make an impact at Liverpool, embarking on loan spells away with Hull, Derby, Bournemouth and Cardiff.

Having dazzled in the Championship, it was Fulham who gave Wilson a fresh start in the summer, acquiring his signature for a reported £12m fee on a five-year deal.

It is fair to say that Wilson hasn't failed to meet those expectations so far, with Fulham showing their promotion credentials...

How's it gone so far?

Fulham have won only one of their last four games, but their start to life back in the Championship has been largely impressive.

Marco Silva's side have yielded six wins from their first 11 matches, and currently occupy fifth spot in the Championship table.

Wilson has featured in eight of those matches, scoring three goals and chipping in with as many assists in a Fulham shirt.

He was sent off in only the second game of the season in a 5-1 win at Huddersfield, but has bounced back with some fabulous individual performances.

What issues does he face?

At the moment, Wilson doesn't face any immediate issues. He is a key player for a team which are expected to be fighting for automatic promotion come the end of the season.

When he is at his best, he is undoubtedly one of the dangerous players at this level, and it is all about playing to his strengths.

But every successful team needs competition, and with Tom Cairney still waiting in the wings to return from injury.

They also have players like Ivan Cavaleiro and Rodrigo Muniz who can step in and do a job if Wilson isn't performing to his standard.

What's next?

Well, Fulham will be hoping to recover from a recent rut. Only four points have been picked up from their last four games, and they have tailed off slightly in the race for automatic promotion.

Wilson will be hoping to stay free from injuries and keep on performing to a level which we all expect him to perform to.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/harry-wilson-at-fulham-hows-it-gone-so-far-what-issues-does-he-face-whats-next/

WhiteJC

How is Maxime Le Marchand getting on after his Fulham exit in the summer?

Fulham had a very busy summer as Marco Silva looked to reshape the squad ahead of his first season in charge of the club.

Whilst there was a lot of focus on retaining key men and incomings, there were plenty of departures from Craven Cottage, with Maxime Le Marchand one of those to secure a permanent move away.

The left-sided defender joined in 2018 when they were a Premier League club, and his signing was seen as a coup after Le Marchand had shone in Ligue 1 with Nice.

However, things didn't go to plan for the player, or his teammates, in a forgettable year that saw the team relegated.

Despite that, Le Marchand would remain with Fulham in the second tier and he featured in some important games as they won promotion back to the top-flight straight away.

But, he would go on to make just two more league appearances for the Londoners after that, with the 31-year-old having a loan spell with Antwerp before moving on for good this summer to RC Strasbourg.

And, it's a move that has worked out very well for Le Marchand.

Crucially, after a frustrating few years, he is getting regular football, having featured in six consecutive games since the transfer was finalised.

On the whole, he has done well too, with the team picking up ten points in that period, lifting them into mid-table in Ligue 1.

The vast majority of Fulham fans would agree that Le Marchand's exit was the right move, but they will be glad to see the popular former player has settled in well to his new club.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/how-is-maxime-le-marchand-getting-on-after-his-fulham-exit-in-the-summer/

WhiteJC

Should Fulham consider a 'B team'?
Louis Wishlade explores the idea of installing a B Team at Motspur Park, outlining its possible benefits and drawbacks.


Pep Guardiola recently sparked controversy by touting the prospect of allowing top-tier English clubs to to use established English Football League sides as 'B teams'. This, along with Brentford's rise through the ranks while using a second side, has brought the conversation of B teams to the forefront. So, should we think about implementing our own B team? If so, how could this work?

What is a B team?
Traditionally, a B team is a halfway-house between the first team and the youth sides used to blood breakthrough prospects with valuable game time in professional leagues, a strategy widely used in Spain and Germany.

This system saw Guardiola kickstart his own playing career at Barcelona and also allowed him to test his skills as a manager before becoming the first-team head coach. The Catalonian side has used this system to develop the likes of Lionel Messi, Carles Puyol, Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta, Xavi and Victor Valdes, proving its merits if employed correctly.

However, this is wildly different to what Guardiola has recently suggested should be implemented in English football. Instead, the now-Manchester City manager believes that top-tier English sides should be able to form affiliate links with established Football League sides, allowing them to loan multiple players to the same club to aid their development. This suggestion was frantically rejected by many throughout the football pyramid.

Instead, the system which has seen the most success recently, and is more desirable for duplication in England, is that of our local rivals, Brentford.

What's Brentford's B team model?
Brentford's model differs from the traditional system, as the team doesn't compete in any official league. Instead, the side, which replaced Brentford's academy in 2016, is aimed solely at producing first-team players in the 17 to 21 age range, by utilising it as a platform from which to blood their data-driven signings.

Neil MacFarlane's squad play friendlies with teams from across Europe, allowing their 'undervalued' youngsters to gain experience in a competitive, yet no-pressure, environment as they get to grips with Thomas Frank's tactics. So far, this has allowed 22 players to seamlessly make the transition from reserves to the first team, without the cost of a £1.5 million-per-year academy system – from which most of the fruits were stolen anyway by Premier League clubs due to the Elite Player Performance Plan.

Thus, not only is the model far cheaper and much more efficient, with academy players rarely breaking through into most club's first teams, but it is also part of their strategy to generate income. Just look at Chris Mepham's £12.25 million transfer from Brentford to Bournemouth, just three years after his free transfer to the B team from Chelsea's academy.

Could it work at Fulham?
We have an elite academy. It's held Category One status for nearly a decade, and it's produced some moutwatering prospects; some of whom have gone on to achieve success elsewhere, and some who haven't made the grade.

But it can't be denied that, financially and in terms of first-team success at Fulham, we could have – and perhaps should have – seen more of a return.

We've seen the painful loss of some bright talents in recent years, with Dembele stolen away by Celtic for a pittance, as well as Harvey Elliott and Patrick Roberts moving away to 'big six' clubs. The trio made just 89 appearances for Fulham combined.

However, the Whites have also suffered from the Elite Player Performance Plan of which we're a part of, with Mika Biereth joining Arsenal over the summer, as well as DJ Buffonage moving to Manchester United, Djed Spence to Middlesbrough and Codey Drameh to Leeds United.

Simultaneously, the Cottagers have watched youngsters touted for the top fail to break into the first team in the last few years of instability, with Matt O'Riley probably at the tip of your tongue. Thus, a model that composes of a combination of that employed by Barcelona to develop their academy starlets and Brentford's sign-to-sell strategies could benefit us.

Not only could more attention and opportunities be given for our prospects to shine, accelerating their integration into the first team from the infrequent cup run outs currently offered, but it could also allow for cheaper signings to be made as they would be afforded more time to settle. This is something that the likes of Tyrese Francois and Jay Stansfield would surely benefit from, as could have Ibrahim Cisse in years gone past.

Additionally, our finances could benefit from this, as we could hunt for cheap, undervalued signings, with the sole intention of developing them and selling them for profit. This could help loosen the noose that is FFP from around the club's neck and give some additional breathing room for spending, while also allowing a pipeline of talent ready to replace any outgoing first-team players.

We've got it good here, but it could be better. It should be better. The topic is ripe for discussing; so why don't we discuss it?



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2021-10-05-should-fulham-consider-a-b-team/


WhiteJC

Ranieri and Watford: a fling of convenience which might just work

A manager with more than 20 previous clubs and a club with a hire 'em and fire 'em policy could give Watford a fighting chance of staying up.

There is an uncomfortable truth which anybody who pokes fun at Watford's hire 'em and fire 'em policy towards their head coaches has to acknowledge: it works. Since the Pozzos took control at Vicarage Road in June 2012, Watford have burnt through 13 managers, but they've also had two promotions, six seasons in the Premier League, and an appearance in the FA Cup final. So, while it's all jolly good fun to crack our 'When's it my shift to manage Watford?' gags, it should also be acknowledged that almost half the club's entire history of top-flight football – six seasons out of 14, in total – have come on their watch.

It only took seven games of this Premier League campaign for Xisco Munoz to become the policy's latest victim. There had been signs that things weren't going as smoothly as results suggested during last season's promotion run-in, when performances didn't quite match those results, and it had even been mooted that Munoz would be sacked during the summer, only for the Pozzos to step back and allow him to prove himself in the Premier League.

While Watford's start to the season has not been dreadful, they have been blessed with a fairly comfortable first few fixtures, with their only two wins coming on the opening day of the season against an Aston Villa team that was labouring under a Covid outbreak and then against a Norwich City team which has, after seven matches, accumulated just a single point.

As ever, the transition was carried out swiftly and seamlessly. Claudio Ranieri was shuffled on stage within a few hours of Munoz being removed from his position. For the neutral, this is a delight. Ranieri charmed the nation during his Leicester City team's ascent to the Premier League title, after all. But 2016 was a long time ago, and the foundations upon which that Leicester team was built were put in place by his predecessor Nigel Pearson.

With just a few weeks to go before the start of the 2015/16 season, Ranieri opted to stick rather than twist and left Pearson's foundations in place. It was a gamble which paid off spectacularly, but when he did get the opportunity to indulge his 'Tinkerman' nickname in the summer following Leicester's Premier League title, the wheels fell off the wagon quickly, and the following February – with the club one point above the relegation places and a third of the season left to play – he was relieved of his duties.

But while it's tempting to focus upon Ranieri's time at Leicester, this was an outlier in terms of his overall career. Watford is his 22nd appointment as a head coach (he's had two spells at three clubs, at Puteolana at the start of his career, and then later at Valencia and at Roma), and broadly he has always been considered something of a short-term appointment, with the longest period he's spent as a coach at any club being his four years at Chelsea from 2000 to 2004.

The closest corollary to his appointment at Watford is his time at Fulham, between November 2018 and February 2019. His predecessor, Slavisa Jokanovic, had found himself in a similar position to that of Xisco Munoz, having taken Fulham into the Premier League via the play-offs, only to find the top flight a very different proposition to the Championship. By the time of his departure, Fulham were rooted to the bottom of the Premier League, with just five points from 12 matches.

Ranieri's time at Craven Cottage was not especially happy. He won his first match in charge 3-2 against Southampton, their first league win in three months, but he was ultimately unable to steady the ship. Fulham were knocked out of the FA Cup by Oldham Athletic of League Two in January 2019, and by the time of his departure at the end of February, after just 106 days in charge, Fulham were still second from bottom in the table and by this time ten points adrift of safety. At the end of the season, they were relegated by the same margin.

But as ever, focusing on the manager takes attention away from the rest of a club. Claudio Ranieri couldn't get a tune out of Fulham in the Premier League in 2018/19, but neither could Slavisa Jokanovic and neither could his successor, Scott Parker. With three different managers in charge of the team over the course of that season, it's unlikely that there was a manager within Fulham's price bracket who could have kept that group of players in the Premier League.

And in his most recent appointments, Ranieri has been successful. He improved Roma immediately after leaving Leicester, and his departure from the Stadio Olimpico at the end of a short-term contract was an emotional affair even though he was unable to lift them into a Champions League place, while he took Sampdoria from bottom place in Serie A to finish in 15th place in the table at the end of the 2019/20 season, seven points above the relegation places, and then to ninth place in the table during his second season there. Watford supporters, it seems reasonable to suggest, would be happy with a repeat of that.

It is obviously too early to say whether Claudio Ranieri will be a success at Watford this season, but what we can say for certain is that the club has appointed a manager who is personable, knows the Premier League well, and has a vast amount of experience, collected across a lengthy coaching career which has taken in clubs of almost every hue.

He has a fighting chance. Xisco Munoz probably shouldn't have stayed on beyond the summer at Watford, but the seven points that he managed to win this season could prove to be very important next spring. But ultimately, this particular union looks very much like one between a short-term coach and a club which views the head coach role as a succession of short-term appointments. As such, it might just turn out that this fling of convenience works out for all parties concerned.



https://www.football365.com/news/opinion-ranieri-and-watford-a-fling-of-convenience-which-might-just-work-premier-league-ismaila-sarr

WhiteJC

What is the latest news with Matt Grimes' situation at Swansea City amid previous Fulham interest?

The Matt Grimes situation at Swansea City is certainly an interesting one, with the second international break of the season now upon us.

The midfielder was an integral player for the Swans as they reached the play-off final last season, and attracted plenty of interest throughout the summer.

Fulham saw bids turned down for the 26-year-old on deadline day, with Swansea's demands proving too much for another club to match.

Swansea are now in a slightly difficult position, though. Grimes has remained a key player under Russell Martin, starting in each of their first 11 games of the Championship season.

Grimes is out of contract in the summer, though, meaning that he will be free to talk to other clubs in January if he wishes.

Even if Grimes is to be sold in January, Swansea may have to cash in for a minimal fee, rather than potentially lose him for nothing at the end of the season.

It remains to be seen whether Fulham reignite interest in Grimes, given how they went and signed Nathaniel Chalobah from Watford on deadline day.

But with six months set to be left on his deal at the Liberty Stadium, a player of Grimes' quality and age is likely to be an attractive target for many clubs.

Swansea will continue talks with Grimes over a new deal in South Wales, as per Wales Online, with CEO Julian Winter saying: "Every player has a valuation, whoever was interested in Matt didn't reach it.

"I know Matt's been here for six or seven years, he's been a great servant, he's been player of the year, captain, he's an outstanding individual and player.

"I think he suits the way Russell wants to play. The benefit is we keep him, and we'll continue to talk to matt about his future."



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/what-is-the-latest-news-with-matt-grimes-situation-at-swansea-city-amid-previous-fulham-interest/

WhiteJC

Sky Sports EFL pundit delivers clear promotion verdict on West Brom and Fulham following recent setbacks

Sky Sports EFL pundit Andy Hinchcliffe has insisted that West Brom and Fulham will still go on and achieve automatic promotion this season despite their setbacks before the international break.

West Brom and Fulham both enjoyed strong starts to the Championship season and put down early markers over their promotion credentials this term. That came with them producing some excellent performances and getting great results in the early weeks of the campaign.

However, over the last few weeks, West Brom have managed to pick up just nine points from their last six matches while Fulham have only picked up seven points in that period.

The Baggies were beaten for the first time this season in the Championship by Stoke City on Friday, with the Potters managing to edge them out with a narrow 1-0 win.

Fulham, meanwhile, suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat at Coventry City despite taking a half time lead and they could not contain a rampant second half display from the Sky Blues.

Speaking to Sky Sports' latest EFL podcast (3:30), Hinchcliffe insisted that West Brom and Fulham both suffering defeats before the international break and dips in form recently is a reminder of how tough the Championship is.

While he also insisted that both West Brom and Fulham will still be right up there amongst the top two come the end of the campaign.

He said: It's just a case of the Championship striking again. I still would stick by that (West Brom and Fulham to go up), I think at the time looking at Fulham and West Brom their form their squads how they play, I still believe they will be the top two in the Championship regardless of what has happened recently.

"To me, it's more about Stoke and Coventry than necessarily about Fulham and West Brom, you're going to have games in a Championship season where you don't have things your own way, and I think Stoke and Coventry City have started the season incredibly well, the major challenge is playing against Fulham and West Brom and they stood up to those challenges and it is the Championship all over.

"Nothing is taken for granted and Bournemouth now look like the really form side, a team that can win the title, but again they're going to have two or three games, they're going to have blips during the season because this is the toughest league you can play in for the variety of challenges you face,

"So even the good sides Fulham and West Brom are still good sides I haven't changed my opinion on that, they just came up against teams who got their game plans right.

"And in Coventry's case, how they turned around a mid-week battering at Luton to then go and beat Fulham 4-1, I couldn't believe as the goals were going in against Fulham, but then you start to think wait a minute, this is the Championship and it can happen and it is going to happen to every club and certainly it's going to happen to the clubs in the top six.

"But I still think over the course of the season the consistency of Fulham and West Brom will come through and they will still make it."

The verdict

Considering the strength in depth that both West Brom and Fulham have within their squads in most positions, you can understand why Hinchcliffe is still positive in his belief that they will end up as the top two in the Championship at the end of the campaign.

However, teams like Bournemouth and Stoke are going to have a lot to say about that. You would expect them to continue to push West Brom and Fulham right the way throughout the season.

There is a lot more expectation and pressure on Valerien Ismael and Marco Silva than there is on Scott Parker, Michael O'Neill and even Mark Robins at Coventry City.

Therefore, that is going to have to be something that both West Brom's and Fulham's manager can show they can handle.

The Championship is always going to through up shock results and it is how teams bounce back from setbacks that is the most important thing.

We will see the true credentials of both West Brom and Fulham when the campaign resumes to see how they recover from their first major setbacks.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/sky-sports-efl-pundit-delivers-clear-promotion-verdict-on-west-brom-and-fulham-following-recent-setbacks/


WhiteJC

Swansea City to sell Matt Grimes in January, report claims
Swansea City will 'almost certainly' look to sell Matt Grimes in January – the midfielder was linked with Fulham in the summer transfer window.

A report from Swansea Independent claims that sources close to the club have confirmed that owner Julian Winter will look to cash in on Grimes, 26, this January.

The midfielder is now in the final year of his contract having been linked with a number of clubs in the last transfer window.

Premier League clubs Brighton and Watford were both linked with the Englishman, with Bournemouth having also been mentioned too.

Though it was Fulham who were being linked with most and they even tabled a bid in the region of £2.5million for Grimes, which was knocked back by the Swans.

Now though, Grimes could well secure his Swansea exit and Fulham's interest could well be reignited knowing that the Swans are looking to cash in. What's more is that, given his contract situation, it'd be unsurprising if the Welsh club are more inclined to sell at a lower price as to avoid losing him for free next summer.

Do Fulham still have a need for Grimes?
Marco Silva has good depth to his side, especially so in the central areas. Harrison Reed and Josh Onomah both started in front of the defence in last weekend's 4-1 defeat at Coventry City but Siva also has the likes of Jean Michael Seri and Nathaniel Chalobah at his disposal.

Grimes though is a different kind if midfield player – he's a ground-coverer, someone who will always be available for a pass and someone who has a keen passing range of his own. He keeps this Swansea side ticking over in the middle of the park and that kind of transition player from defence to attack could be exactly what Fulham need to build some consistency.

It could still be a good addition to Fulham's side, though we could see a few more interested parties join the race if Swansea look to sell at a lower price than their previously reported £4million price tag.



https://the72.co.uk/252437/swansea-city-to-sell-matt-grimes-in-january-report-claims/

WhiteJC

Police investigating allegation of racist abuse at Coventry City vs Fulham game

A supporter reported being subjected to words he believed had racist undertones

West Midlands Police are investigating an allegation of racist abuse directed at a Fulham fan during Coventry City's match at the weekend.

Two incidents are reported to have taken place on the terraces at the Coventry Building Society Arena during the Coventry City v Fulham match on Saturday, October 2.

West Midlands Police has confirmed the allegation that a Fulham fan was racially abused is being investigated.

Read more Coventry news

Sergeant Lizzie Lewandowski, of the West Midlands Police Football Unit, said: "A man approached our officers in the stadium to report he'd been subjected to words that he believed had racist undertones.

"We've identified a suspect and the matter will be progressed once we have taken all witness statements."

Coventry City FC Police, part of the West Midlands Police Football Unit, also spoke of the incident on Twitter and said two incidents were being investigated.

A tweet on Saturday (October 2) said: "I am aware of incidents involving racial abuse at the game today aimed towards a Fulham supporter.

"The first incident was already being investigated and the second incident will also be investigated, following the circulation of a video.

"The victim has been spoken to and I will work with @Coventry_City to identify those involved."

Club response

Coventry City FC have also posted on Twitter about the alleged incident, saying: "Following reports of two incidents of racial abuse at (Saturday's) game, these are being investigated by West Midlands Police.

"There is no place for racism of any form at our games or in wider society."

In another tweet yesterday (Monday October 4) the West Midlands Police Football Unit urged people to report anything they felt was a hate crime at a football match.

The tweet said: "If you witness hate crime at football please report it to either a steward or police.

"If you don't feel comfortable reporting in this way @kickitout offer anonymous reporting.

"Although we cannot take crime reports via social media you can call 101 or use web chat to report crime."

Saturday's fixture at the Coventry Building Society Arena was on the club's Jimmy Hill Day and saw Coventry City win 4-1 after being a goal down at half-time.



https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/police-investigating-allegation-racist-abuse-21765337

WhiteJC

Fulham Welcomes Asiabet33 as Official Asian Betting Partner


Fulham Football Club is pleased to announce a partnership with Asiabet33 as our official Asian betting partner for the remainder of the 2021/2022 Season.

Established in 2017, Asiabet33 is a pioneer for gaming technology in Asia. The organisation's cutting-edge technological framework has been adopted by various industry players in the market across the continent. Asiabet33 and its subsidiaries currently operate in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, and Japan with expansion plans in place for the rest of Asia.

"Asiabet33 is thrilled to be partnered with Fulham Football Club's to service the Asian market. This partnership is a monumental opportunity for us to grow from strength to strength as a prominent player in the Asian gaming technology industry," said Leo Li, Managing Director and Co-Founder of Asiabet33. "Working with Fulham provides us with the necessary resources to hone the skill sets of our team members and deliver the best possible experience for our clients."

Jon Don-Carolis, Fulham FC Sales Director, said:
"We are delighted to have Asiabet33 on board as our betting partner in the Asian region and look forward to working with them further to develop our global fanbase."



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2021/october/05/fulham-welcomes-/


WhiteJC

Signing Fulham player was a 'stroke of luck' for club – Has 'extraordinary feet', seen as 'excellent player'

Since André-Frank Zambo Anguissa landed in Italy to sign for Napoli, we can't stop seeing the local media telling us how good the transfer has been for the Serie A side.

The midfielder arrived from Fulham on a loan deal, with a clause saying the move can be made permanent for a fee of €15m.

Now, besides all the compliments from the media, there are positive comments from those involved with the club as well.

That's the case of former general director Luciano Moggi.

The ex-official was interviewed by I Tirapietre, from Radio Amore Campania, and could only praise Anguissa for the performance in the 2-1 win over Fiorentina.

"A great defence, if you find an Anguissa doing that job in midfield, then you're good," said Moggi (via Area Napoli).

"It was a stroke of luck for Napoli on the transfer market, having taken the midfielder from Fulham. In addition to being skilled at marking, he has extraordinary feet."

"The merits of Napoli are all there, the demerits are all of those who had given up on him and sent him away in an unusual way, unless there are things underneath that we do not know. But after seeing him on the pitch, he looks like an excellent player, ready in defending and lending a hand to his teammates."

With those comments going around the Italian media since the time of the signing, it'd be no surprise to see Napoli signing Anguissa from Fulham on a permanent move.

The rumour is already on in local reports, with claims saying the Serie A side could try to anticipate the purchase and try to get a €5m discount for that.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/signing-fulham-player-stroke-luck-club-extraordinary-feet-seen-excellent-player/

WhiteJC

Matt Godden: Coventry City striker charged by FA for alleged dive against Fulham


Matt Godden scored the penalty that arose from his tangle with Fulham defender Antonee Robinson

Coventry City's Matt Godden has been charged by the Football Association for an alleged dive during Saturday's 4-1 Championship win at home to Fulham.

The 30-year-old striker won a penalty, which he successfully converted himself to make it 2-1, following a 50th-minute challenge from Fulham defender Antonee Robinson.

But video evidence suggested Robinson did not make contact with him.

And the FA has now charged Godden with "a clear act of simulation".

Godden has until Wednesday, 6 October to provide a response.

The Sky Blues, who were propelled to third in the Championship by their seventh win in 11 games this season, issued a short statement in response to Godden's improper conduct charge.

It said: "We are disappointed to learn of the FA's decision to charge Matty Godden with a breach of rule E3.

"As per the FA regulations we will respond within the timescale required."





https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58809997

WhiteJC

EXCLUSIVE: Southampton seek January signing of Championship star at contract impasse

Southampton are looking at a January deal for Fulham starlet Fabio Carvalho, TEAMtalk can exclusively confirm.

The South Coast club have been tracking the midfielder for a number of months. They are now hoping to take advantage of the fact he is yet to sign his new deal. His current contract expires at the end of the 2021-22 season.

We understand a host of Premier League clubs have been looking closely at the 19-year-old, who has emerged as one of the Championship's top performers this season.

Carvalho has contributed three goals and one assist from five league appearances so far. It follows on from last season, when he made four Premier League appearances and scored one goal in the weeks before their relegation.

The 19-year-old's representatives have been locked in talks with Fulham, but so far all their offers have been shunned. Whilst the Cottagers remain confident of keeping Carvalho, other clubs are circling.

There is interest from more than half the Premier League and from around Europe, but Southampton are believed to be confident about doing a deal.

They did a deal with an English-Portuguese talent from West London earlier this summer when they persuaded highly-rated Chelsea full-back Tino Livramento to move to St Mary's.

Livramento was born in England but has Portuguese heritage on his father's side. He has started all seven of Southampton's Premier League games so far this season.

Now Carvalho, who was born in Portugal but has represented England at youth level, could also join their ranks.

So far, the attacking midfielder has six international caps at under-18 level. He looks likely to continue his fine form for his club too. But how long they are able to enjoy him at Craven Cottage remains to be seen.

Fulham set to land transfer windfall

Another player who could complete a permanent transfer away from Fulham soon is Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa.

The midfielder left on loan for Napoli following the Cottagers' relegation. His form in Serie A has been impressive so far, for a side who still have a 100% record in the league.

The 25-year-old has impressed so much that Napoli are already planning to make the transfer permanent, according to Calciomercato.

That would cost them €15m, which would be a tidy windfall for Fulham, who in contrast have never really seen the best of him in England.

He jumped ship on loan for Villarreal following their previous relegation before returning to the fold last term. Now away from west London again, it seems Zambo Anguissa could be gone for good.



https://www.teamtalk.com/news/exclusive-southampton-january-transfer-fulham-fabio-carvalho


WhiteJC

FA charge Coventry City star with rule breach which could result in suspension

The 30-year-old is accused of diving to win a penalty against Fulham at the weekend

Coventry City striker Matty Godden could be heading for a two match ban after being charged by the FA for an alleged dive against Fulham.

The Sky Blues star went down in the box in the 50th minute after a challenge by defender Antonee Robinson resulting in referee Gavin Ward pointing straight to the spot, and the 30-year-old duly converting the kick which gave Mark Robins's men a 2-1 lead.

Having come from behind, City went on to thump Fulham 4-1 in a thrilling encounter at the CBS Arena, after which Cottagers' boss Marco Silva accused Godden of taking a dive for the penalty.

The game, which was televised live on Sky Sports, highlighted replays of the incident and today the FA have taken retrospective action.

Providing a regulation and discipline update, the footballing governing body tweeted: "Coventry City FC's Matt Godden has been charged with a breach of FA Rule E3 following their EFL Championship game against Fulham FC on Saturday, October 2.

"It is alleged that the striker's behaviour in the 50th minute of the fixture amounts to improper conduct, in committing a clear act of simulation which led to the award of a penalty kick.

"Matt Godden has until October 6 to provide a response."

Coventry City have responded by saying: "We are disappointed to learn of the FA's decision to charge Matty Godden with a breach of rule E3.

"As per the FA regulations we will respond within the timescale required."

The rules state that accepted or proven allegations of simulation or feigning injury will result in a two-match ban for the offending player.

If proven, it could mean City will be without the striker for the two games at Blackburn and Preston after the international break.



https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/football-news/coventry-city-matty-godden-penalty-21772619

WhiteJC

Self-proclaimed Jedi, Robinson impresses with goals and flip

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Antonee Robinson gave himself the nickname Jedi as a kid, and he followed the goal that sparked the United States´ comeback against Honduras with a backflip that would have fit into a "Star Wars" duel.

"It´s a celebration I´ve been wanting to do for a while, to be honest," he recalled Tuesday. "The emotions kind of took over me. It was my first goal for the national team. It was in such a big moment. It was just kind of the first thing that came to mind, to celebrate in a way that was something I used to do as a kid."

A 24-year-old defender for Fulham in England, Robinson could solve a long-time problem position for the U.S. national team, which has struggled for decades to find a top left back. After opening World Cup qualifying with a 0-0 draw at El Salvador, a 1-1 tie at home against Canada and a 4-1 come-from-behind win at Honduras, the Americans host Jamaica on Thursday night in the first of three more qualifiers in a seven-day span.

Robinson started the middle match last month after entering the opener in the 64th minute when Sergiño Dest scuffled on the left. The Americans fell behind at Honduras when coach Gregg Berhalter opened with a 3-4-3 formation that had George Bello at left wingback and Tyler Adams - usually a central midfielder - at right wingback. Robinson was among three changes at the start of the second half as the U.S. reverted to a 4-3-3.

Robinson tied the score with a right-footed volley from 8 yards from a Ricardo Pepi backheel pass.

"I talked with him, and it wasn´t an easy conversation," Berhalter said. "I explained to him that he´s going to come in and make an impact off the bench. We wanted George to start the game. I thought he had an outstanding game against Canada. But I talked to him about his role in this game and how we´re going to bring him in to make an impact, and he did."


United States's Antonee Robinson celebrates scoring his side's opening goal against Honduras during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2021. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

Robinson was raised in Liverpool, which his accent quickly reveals. His father, Marlon, was born in England, grew up in White Plains, New York, and was on Duke´s soccer team from 1981-84.

Antonee joined Everton´s youth academy when he was 11, his development slowed by a broken left knee patella in 2014 and right knee microfracture surgery in 2015.

On loan to Bolton, he made his professional debut in the League Cup on Aug. 9, 2017. He transferred to Fulham for 2020-21, making his Premier League debut and playing alongside American central defender Tim Ream. He impressed in his first U.S. appearance, against Bolivia in May 2018, setting up Tim Weah's goal on a night Josh Sargent also debuted.

Berhalter used 22 players in the first three qualifiers, including 21 who got starts. Only Adams and central defender Miles Robinson played every minute.

It´s not yet clear whether Robinson can travel to Panama for Sunday´s game or will be blocked by British government travel restrictions that would require a quarantine when returning to England. The U.S. player pool at left back is not deep - Dest has been better on the right, Sam Vines isn´t in camp and Berhalter has said it´s too soon to call in Joe Scally, an 18-year-old who has been shifted to the left side and played 90 minutes in all seven Bundesliga matches this season for Borussia Mönchengladbach.

"We have a deep enough squad to rotate guys, to get guys on the field without a drop-off in quality," midfielder Cristian Roldan said. "We got to embrace the challenge. We have to embrace the travel conditions, the short rest and get on with it."

Robinson scored his first Fulham goal against Birmingham in the League Cup on Aug. 24. The Cottagers wound up getting relegated last season, and Robinson found himself on a team battling for promotion - Fulham is fifth after 11 matches - rather than scrapping to avoid relegation.

"It is definitely a shift in mentality," he said. "The expectations on us, with the squad we have, are obviously to go straight back up. ... It´s a nice feeling going into a game, feeling that everyone´s confident that we can win. And it´s a similar token here when we come to the States, it´s we´re expected to qualify, we´re expected to be one of the better teams. At the same time, I feel like they´re the games that motivate all the other teams. All the other CONCACAF teams that are qualifying with us right now, they´re going to be looking at games against us and thinking: `This is our moment to prove what a good team we are.´"

After playing the Reggae Boyz in Auston, the U.S. is at Panama on Sunday, then meets Costa Rica on Oct. 13 at Columbus, Ohio.



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-10062679/Self-proclaimed-Jedi-Robinson-impresses-goals-flip.html

WhiteJC

Fulham's Aussie chasing Socceroos breakthrough after Olyroos frustration

After eight years on Fulham's books, Australian midfielder Tyrese Francois is hellbent on a Socceroos debut and turning the Londoners' return to the Championship into a breakout season.

With three senior appearances already under new boss Marco Siva, the 21-year-old from Campbelltown in Sydney's west has the bit between his teeth.

A telling contribution to Fulham's push for a quick Premier League return would propel Francois into Socceroos calculations, and likely see him remain at Craven Cottage beyond this season.

Talks over a contract extension are already under way, with Francois intent on delivering on undoubted potential in the coming months.

Other than a solitary League Cup appearance a year ago, Francois has been playing a waiting game.

"I'm just trying to build on this (breakthrough) and get as many games as possible under my belt first, and see what the Socceroos have to say about it," the uncapped midfielder told FTBL.

"I've been in the extended (Socceroos) squads for the past two camps now, so the more club games I get the better my chances will be.

"It's a big year for me as I'm in the final year of my contract. I'm in talks right now - the club wants to extend but there's no rush.

"Fulham are a great club - for me the main thing now is to be playing regular football and to really kick start my career.

"The club have been good to me and if it's right then I'll sign without a doubt.

"I've always been the young player coming through - now I'm at the age I really need to push on."

Currently sidelined with a minor hip injury, Francois missed the cut for the Olympics - but used the omission to cement his spot in Silva's plans.

"Not going to Tokyo (with the Olyroos) was frustrating, I won't lie," he said.

"But at the same time it gave me a huge opportunity at Fulham with the new manager. I don't think he knew me, so it was more how I played in pre-season that he had to judge me on. For me, it's been a blessing in disguise.

"In my case, even though I'm playing a bit deeper, coming up with a few assists would be something that would get me noticed."

With Fulham sitting fifth 11 games into the season, Francois believes they are on course to boomerang straight back to the top flight.

"I think we have an excellent chance and have the quality to win most of our games in this division," he added.

That said, the 4-1 loss to Coventry City at the weekend showed how treacherous the Championship can be.



https://www.ftbl.com.au/news/fulhams-aussie-chasing-socceroos-breakthrough-after-olyroos-frustration-570750