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Thursday Fulham Stuff - 28/10/21...

Started by WhiteJC, October 28, 2021, 12:07:46 AM

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WhiteJC

Pundit makes West Brom claim as Fulham clash looms large

Former West Bromwich Albion player Andy Johnson has told the club's official website that he believes his former side can get a win against Fulham on Saturday.

The Baggies are currently preparing for their trip to the capital this coming weekend as they face a Fulham side who are also looking to gain promotion back to the Premier League at the first attempt after suffering relegation last term.

Both sides head into the game having both won their previous league games respectively by comprehensive scorelines as Albion beat Bristol City 3-0, whilst Fulham defeated Nottingham Forest 4-0 away from home.

Now Johnson has claimed that Valerien Ismael's side can go to Craven Cottage and claim victory in the lunchtime kick off on Saturday:

"We've also got really good players who are more than capable of going to Craven Cottage and coming back with the three points.

"I think it would be a big statement to make, to go there and win.

"I really hope that happens this weekend."

A win for the Baggies in the capital would see them leapfrog Fulham into second place in the Sky Bet Championship table and they could also potentially close the gap on the leaders Bournemouth.

It certainly promises to be an intriguing clash between two of the early season promotion hopefuls.

The Verdict

It would be a huge step forward for Ismael and his players if they were to go to Fulham and win on Saturday and it would certainly be a result that would send shockwaves across the division.

Many people will be predicting a slightly cagey encounter between the two sides, however there is also a high likelihood that there will be goals aplenty between the two free flowing teams.

It all depends on how the respective managers approach the game but in conclusion, we could have a very memorable match on our hands.

The Baggies would be happy with a point, but as Johnson quite rightly points out, they are more than capable of getting all three.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/pundit-makes-west-brom-claim-as-fulham-clash-looms-large/

WhiteJC

Birmingham's Troy Deeney makes bold claim concerning Fulham and West Brom

Birmingham City striker Troy Deeney has claimed that Fulham and West Bromwich Albion are the only two teams in the Championship that "know they can get one of the two automatic [promotion] places".

The boyhood Blues fan left Watford to link up with Lee Bowyer's squad in the summer and has scored twice in his first eight games for the second-tier club.

After a bright start to the season, Birmingham have struggled over the past few months and now sit 18th in the Championship.

The weekend's 2-1 win against Swansea City could help them kick-start their season, however, and with just five points between the Blues and the top six, Deeney remains confident a play-off finish is achievable.

Speaking in an interview with Four Four Two, he said: "I've not signed for a jolly-up. I may be over 30 now but I'm not an OAP who wants to wind down and have a good time.

"I'm under quite a lot of pressure; I want to win. I think we can deliver the play-offs this season, but there are 15 other teams who believe that, too.

"It's only Fulham and West Brom who know they can get one of the two automatic places, while all the others want to be the best of the rest."

Fulham sit five points back from league leaders Bournemouth, with West Brom one point further back in third.

Bowyer's side's next chance to close their gap on the top six comes on Saturday when they travel to the Riverside to host in-form Middlesbrough.

The Verdict

This is a bold claim from Deeney with such a long way to in the 2021/22 campaign.

It's true that the Championship top three are beginning to open up a gap on the rest of the clubs chasing promotion – with that now at four points after the weekend.

He seems to have crowned Bournemouth as promoted to the Premier League already while he's certain either the Baggies or Fulham will join them.

That may unsettle some Blues fans given Albion are their local rivals but in equal measure, they'll be excited by his confidence about a potential play-off push from the St Andrew's outfit.

It's not been the easiest start to the season but if Bowyer's side can build on their win against the Swans they may find themselves closing the gap on the top six quickly.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/birminghams-troy-deeney-makes-bold-claim-concerning-fulham-and-west-brom/

WhiteJC

Barnet sign Ryan De Havilland after Fulham release

Barnet have signed Ryan De Havilland following his departure from Fulham.

Barnet have announced the addition of the youngster on a long-term deal, as per their official club website.

De Havilland, 20, was released by Fulham at the end of last season.

He has been weighing up his options since the end of June and has now found a new home.

Portsmouth trial
Portsmouth have been taking a look at him on trial over recent times, as reported by The News.

However, it appears the League One side have decided not to offer him a contract and Barnet have now swooped in.

'Very good football brain'...
The Bees' boss, Dean Brennan, has said: "Ryan has a very good football brain and is technically brilliant.  He can play comfortably with both feet and has a very good work ethic.

"We are pleased to have him onboard because he is young and hungry, which are the type of players we want at our Club."

Career to date
De Havilland played in the academy at Reading as a youngster before switching to Fulham.

He went on to make three first-team appearances for the Cottagers, all of which came in the EFL Trophy.

The midfielder was a regular for their Under-18s side before making the step up to the Under-23s.

De Havilland made a total of 25 appearances in the Premier League 2, chipping in with two goals and two assists altogether.

New club
He will be looking to get plenty of game time in the National League with his new club Barnet now and has been handed the number 33 shirt.

The Bees beat Stockport County 2-1 away last night.



https://the72.co.uk/254118/barnet-sign-ryan-de-havilland-after-fulham-release/


WhiteJC

2 Fulham players who could be subject to January transfer interest and why

Fulham are in good form at the moment in the Sky Bet Championship and will be eager to carry that on this weekend as they face a huge clash against promotion rivals West Bromwich Albion.

The Cottagers have won all three of their league games since the international break came to an end earlier this month and have just conceded one goal, scoring ten at the other end.

Certainly, they're looking very strong at the moment but with that comes the risk of players attracting interest from further afield, whilst there are some players within the squad whose futures are currently up in the air thanks to ongoing contract situations.

Here, we take a look at two players who could be subject to January transfer interest and why...

Fabio Carvalho
It's not exactly a stretch to imagine Carvalho will be looked at by several sides this January transfer window, particularly as things stand.

If he signs a new contract at Fulham then that should give the Whites enough of a chance to keep him for a little while longer but, right now, his deal is up next summer and plenty of sides will be eager to get him in on a cut-price deal.

Without doubt, he's the most high-profile player at the club whose future is uncertain right now.

Anthony Knockaert
Knockaert has found it hard to get back into the fold at Fulham since returning from Nottingham Forest and his loan there, and it is quite reasonable to think he might be on the move in January if someone comes in for him.

Marco Silva has used the likes of Neeskens Kebano, Bobby Decordova-Reid, Harry Wilson and Ivan Cavaleiro all in front of him this year and that has meant he's only featured in a couple of League Cup games.

There's every chance someone might offer to take him off Fulham's hands in the next window.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/2-fulham-players-who-could-be-subject-to-january-transfer-interest-and-why/

WhiteJC

Liverpool are reportedly monitoring Fulham youngster

Liverpool are interested in Fulham attacking midfielder Fabio Carvalho, according to Football League World, as cited on Twitter.

The 19-year-old's contract expires in June 2022, which means that he will be a free agent come next summer.

With that being the case, there is plenty of speculation regarding Carvalho's future.

Therefore, Liverpool are reportedly keeping an eye on the youngster's contract situation.

ANFIELD WATCH VERDICT

Fulham are reportedly confident that Carvalho will sign a new deal. However, until both parties come to an agreement, nothing is official.

If the opportunity presents itself, we would like to see Liverpool make a move for Carvalho in the near future.

The attacking midfielder is certainly a talent. Carvalho has scored four goals and registered one assist in 11 appearances for Fulham.

The 19-year-old is also averaging a WhoScored player rating of 7.59 in the early stages of the 2021-22 Championship campaign.

The aforementioned figures highlight that Carvalho has the potential to be a very good senior footballer.



https://www.anfieldwatch.co.uk/liverpool-are-reportedly-monitoring-fulham-youngster/

WhiteJC

The man, the myth, the Mitrovic – Is Fulham's Championship cheat code ready to break the Premier League?

Aleksandar Mitrovic – a player far too good for the Championship and so far, not quite good enough for the Premier League. But is that a mantra we'll soon be forgetting?

There's something quite wholesome about seeing Mitrovic happy and scoring goals. Thinking back to his early days in England with Newcastle United, plagued by red cards and a clear inability to hold back his anger, to see him now happy in a Fulham shirt and much, much more professional has been like seeing someone progress from boyhood into adulthood.

And it's with Fulham where he's done the majority of that growing up. He initially joined on loan midway trough the 2017/18 season and would prove an instant hit with the fans, scoring 12 goals in 17 Championship outings to help his side claim promotion into the Premier League via the play-offs.

By this point, the Premier League had already chewed up and spat out Mitrovic. But after half-a-season with Fulham in the Championship he was brought back on a permanent deal, and thrusted right back into the limelight of the English top flight.

When we think about Mitrovic in the Premier League, we think about a player who can't quite cut it at that level. But in his first season with Newcastle United he scored nine Premier League goals and in his first with Fulham he scored 11. For some reason, Mitrovic has carried with him a heavy air of expectation when it comes to scoring in the Premier League and that's seemingly, subconsciously, tainted his ability to transfer his Championship prowess up into the next level.

The last Premier League season was undoubtedly his worst – three goals in 27 appearances for Fulham who suffered yet another relegation from the top flight. Fans love their Serbian striker and it's undeniably frustrating for them to see Mitrovic perform so well in the Championship but then go into his shell in the Premier League. He has all the hallmark attributes of someone who should be able to boss the English top flight and its physical nature, yet he can't seem to make that transition from Championship to Premier League.

But is that until now?

Fulham are once again competing at the top end of the Championship, this time under Marco Silva. What's noticeable is that Silva's Fulham are a much more consistent attacking threat than what Parker's were. Fulham under Parker almost plodded along in their way to promotion to the Premier League, knicking games by the odd goal and so on. Silva's Fulham meanwhile are steamrolling their way to the Premier League, albeit with the odd defeat to the likes of Blackpool and Reading.

Silva has brought with him to Craven Cottage a new air of confidence among the Fulham ranks and it's having a positive affect on the likes of Mitrovic – he was the league's joint-top scorer with 26 goals last time he played in this division and already this season, he's scored 15 in the Championship. He's on course to smash former West Brom striker Lee Hughes' record of 31 goals in a Championship (of First Division) campaign and finally, though Fulham fans won't hold their breath on this one, Mitrovic looks as though he's well-prepared and in the right mindset to eventually bring to the Premier League what he brings to the Championship.

Mitrovic is far too good for the Championship. He's a cheat code at this level. At 27-years-old he's coming into the peak of his career and he'll want to spend that playing at the highest level possible. One more season of prolific Championship football for Mitrovic, in which he could easily reach an astonishing 40, even 50 goals, will surely be his final hurrah at this level before he's deemed simply too good for the Championship, and should those goals lift Fulham into the Premier League then the next season will surely be Mitrovic's final chance at cracking the Premier League. Before of course he's deemed not good enough for the Premier League.

Another misfire season in the top flight will all but confirm that Mitrovic isn't a Premier League player. But playing in a new-look Fulham side almost built to feed his abilities, dropping the shackles that Parker's tactics held him in, there's no physical reason to suggest why Mitrovic can't break the Premier League next season. Maybe it's all in his head, and if that's the case then it'll boil down to whether Silva is the right manager to ease Mitrovic into a scoring vein of form in the Premier League. For now though, let's sit back and enjoy Mitrovic in the Championship for a while longer.




https://the72.co.uk/254133/the-man-the-myth-the-mitrovic-is-fulhams-championship-cheat-code-ready-to-break-the-premier-league/


WhiteJC

'Which Albion will turn up?' - Fans have their say on West Brom's upcoming fixtures

It will be an important month in the Baggies' promotion push, starting with Fulham on Saturday.

West Bromwich Albion are currently sitting third in the Championship, just one point off automatic promotion.

But after some lack of consistency this season, attention is turned to a crucial month, with the Baggies set to play three of the top 11 in the division, with a visit to Fulham's Craven Cottage set for Saturday.

Valerien Ismael 's side recovered from their defeat against Swansea with a confident victory over an out-of-form Bristol City side, with goals from Jordan Hugill, Kyle Bartley and Karlan Grant at the Hawthorns.

November is set to become an important month with relegation-threatened Hull City following the match at Fulham, before a home game against sixth place Middlesbrough.

Crucially, the Baggies have picked up only three wins on the road, failing to beat Stoke City and Swansea in recent weeks, and November will see important trips to Huddersfield Town and Blackpool, before they return home to face fellow Midlands side Nottingham Forest.

With such an important run ahead for Ismael's side, fans have been having their say on how they see November going for their team.

Tristan Thomas said: "If we play like we did against Bristol [City] we could win them all, if we play like the three previous games we could lose them all, which Albion will turn up?"

Rob Lockey agreed: "Hoping for a minimum of 12 but will depend on which Albion team turn up!"

Bill Hardman added: "We should be looking at winning them all but I think we will get 3 wins and 2 draws."

Richard Nelson suggested: "10 points as we never beat Fulham. Boro will just defend and make it hard for us to score so that will be a draw and we should beat the rest. But Blackpool are pulling off results so can't take them lightly."

And if West Brom had any ambition for promotion, Steve Forrester said: "A club which will finish top 2 will at least draw with Fulham and win the rest. 13 points."



https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/which-albion-turn-up-fans-21983631

WhiteJC

Fulham v Albion match preview

Two sides on the prowl for Premier League promotion go head-to-head at Craven Cottage on Saturday lunchtime, with Albion travelling down to the capital to face Fulham (ko 12.30pm).

The Baggies sit one point and one place behind the Londoners in third ahead of this weekend's Sky Bet Championship showdown.

Both Albion and Fulham will be full of confidence having recorded convincing victories in the last round of fixtures. Valérien Ismaël's men beat Bristol City 3-0 at The Hawthorns on Saturday, while Fulham chalked up an eye-catching 4-0 win at in-form Nottingham Forest a day later.

Saturday's early kick-off gives each team the opportunity to close the gap on leaders AFC Bournemouth, with the Cherries five points ahead of Fulham and six clear of West Bromwich Albion.

How to follow the game

You can follow every kick at the Cottage live with Baggies-biased commentary from Gez Mulholland and Andy Johnson on WBA TV Matchday. Coverage starts at 12.20pm.

A Match Pass is on offer for just £2.50 and will include a full match replay, available to watch on demand on WBA TV. Click here to buy.

Existing subscribers and Match Pass purchasers can listen here.

Opposition

Saturday's hosts Fulham are flying high having won three on the bounce in the Sky Bet Championship, scoring 10 goals in the process.

The Londoners are the division's top scorers so far this season, hitting a total of 33 goals which is eight more than the Championship's second highest team, West Bromwich Albion.

Fulham will be after a swift return to the top flight after suffering relegation last term. With players to call on such as Serbia forward Aleksandar Mitrovic, creative midfielders Harry Wilson and Bobby Reid, as well as defenders Tim Ream and Tosin Adarabioyo, the Cottagers are widely tipped to finish in the top two.

Marco Silva is the man in charge, appointed in the summer following spells in England with Hull City, Watford and Everton.

The 44-year-old has been tasked with leading the Londoners to the Premier League, and he'll be satisfied with the start he has made to life at Craven Cottage.

Fulham are averaging more than two points per game having accumulated 29 from their opening 14 matches, winning nine, drawing two and losing three.

Classic match

Albion edged past Fulham in a thrilling League Cup tie down at Craven Cottage in October, 2005.

Robert Earnshaw gave the Baggies the lead in London, only for Luis Boa Morte to equalise.

The visitors thought they had won it when Kanu scored minutes from the end, but Heidar Helguson's header took the game to extra-time.

And it was during the additional period that Albion won it. Junichi Inamoto fired the ball into the top corner from all of 30 yards to secure safe passage in the cup.

Did you know?

Albion won't just be after the three points on Saturday to be able to jump back ahead of Fulham into the automatic promotion places in the Sky Bet Championship.

The Baggies will also want to end their long wait for a league win at Craven Cottage, a run which has stretched over 54 years.

The last West Bromwich Albion league win in the white part of west London came on Saturday, October 7 1967 in the old Division One.

Away kit colours

Albion will be wearing their yellow third kit on Saturday in London.

You can order it here.

LV BET's latest odds

Albion are measured at 33/9 (3.45) to beat Fulham at Craven Cottage and move up to second in the Championship table.

Having found the back of the net 25 times in 14 league games, LV BET has the Baggies at 17/10 (2.70) to score over 1.5 goals this Saturday.

West Bromwich Albion are at 29/10 (3.90) to go into half-time with a lead, as they have done in their two previous fixtures.

He can't stop scoring! It's six goals in six appearances for West Bromwich Albion's top scorer, Karlan Grant, who once again comes in at 47/20 (3.35) to score his eighth of the season and at 13/2 (7.50) to be the first one on the scoresheet.

Check out the new LV BET Bet £10 Get £10 customer offer here. 18+ begambleaware.org. Terms apply. Odds are subject to change.



https://www.wba.co.uk/news/fulham-v-albion-match-preview-0


WhiteJC

FFC Duo's Football Black List Inclusion

Cyrus Christie has been named on the 2021 Football Black List, which recognises the UK's most influential individuals from the black community working within football.

The Football Black List aims to shine a light on the black professionals working throughout the industry to inspire the next generation of leaders in sport.

Joining Cyrus in receiving the 2021 Players Off The Pitch accolade, is Anita Asante (Aston Villa Women), Nikita Parris (Arsenal Women), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), and Ivan Toney (Brentford).

Discussing Cyrus' inclusion, a spokesperson for the Black List said: "Cyrus established his foundation in 2020 and has since supported hundreds of young people through various initiatives, such as providing food packages, laptop donations and positive online messaging projects. He is committed to improving the lives of young people and continues to be a source of guidance for them."

Following nominations from the public, an expert panel from the Black community and football industry voted as to who should make the List, and its co-founder Leon Mann MBE said: "Black excellence in football is regularly talked about on the pitch - and we want to help highlight the contribution of Black leaders off the field in the sport, too.

"This list of influential game changers is a snapshot of the contribution Black communities are making to football. Those named today join an illustrious group who have featured on the list over the last decade - including the likes of Raheem Sterling, Ian Wright, Hope Powell, Rio Ferdinand, Herman Ouseley and Rachel Yankey."

Speaking to fulhamfc.com, Cyrus commented: "It's amazing to be a part of, and to know that you're an inspiration for the younger black kids who look up to you. It's also amazing to be recognised alongside such great individuals who have done so much.

"Over the years, not so much now, a lot of black people didn't get recognised for what they'd done, what they'd achieved, so it's great that we've got the Football Black List to recognise what people are doing for their culture.

"There's a lot of people out there doing great things, so to be picked out from such a wide variety and pool of people is fantastic.

"The work being done, it's not for recognition, but at the same time you have to keep it public to make sure that certain problems and things like that are being highlighted. That's the way that you keep it going, and that's the way you inspire people.

"Like I said, it's great to be recognised as an inspirational figure within that community."

Cyrus was not the only Fulham representative to be included on the List, with the Club's Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Executive Jamie Dapaah named among the Ugo Ehiogu 'Ones To Watch'.

"I am honoured to be recognised by the Football Blacklist for the Ugo Ehiogu Ones To Watch 2021 award," Jamie said.

"Ugo was a player I admired growing up and through this award I hope I can continue to spread his positive message on inclusion in sport.

"I would like to thank all my colleagues at Fulham Football Club for their continued support, and this award also represents the hard work that goes on behind the scenes at the Club."



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2021/october/27/ffc-duos-football-black-list-inclusion/


WhiteJC

'I am amazed': Pundit cannot believe Liverpool did not sign £12.5m star this summer

Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa followed his second relegation with Fulham by securing a transfer to Lazio, but Walter Sabatini cannot believe Liverpool did not sign the midfielder.

Anguissa has thrived since leaving England for Italy and has become a vital presence in the Biancocelesti unit. Luciano Spalletti has started the 25-year-old in all seven available Serie A fixtures since completing a Deadline Day loan, including a €15m (£12.5m) option to buy.

The Cameroon international has delivered consistently impressive showings for the Stadio Olimpico side, as well. Delighting Spalletti and Cristiano Giuntoli, Lazio's Sporting Director, with his exceptional impact, strength and intelligence on and off the field.

Anguissa's performances with Lazio have left Sabatini in shock that no Premier League side, including Liverpool, secured his transfer instead. The former Biancocelesti Sporting Director firmly believes the 29-cap enforcer is good enough for any of England's title-chasing clubs.

"Anguissa's shot was fantastic," Sabatini told CalcioNapoli24. "I don't understand how [anyone in] the Premier League didn't notice [his ability]. I am amazed that the two Manchester teams, Chelsea and Liverpool did not arrive on a Fulham player."

Should Liverpool have signed Anguissa before Lazio transfer?

Anguissa made 36 appearances in the Premier League last term, but could not stop Fulham falling back into the Championship. He also made 22 outings in the English top-flight for the Cottagers in 2018/19 as they were relegated, following a £30m move from Marseille.

Some Premier League clubs did explore poaching the midfielder from Craven Cottage after his latest relegation in west London. The Daily Mail noted Arsenal, Aston Villa and Everton wanted him in May, but Fulham demanded £20m at the time.

Liverpool, meanwhile, enjoyed a quiet transfer window – especially in midfield – as Jurgen Klopp was happy with his options, despite losing Georginio Wijnaldum, suggesting why the Reds did not try to beat Lazio to a transfer for Anguissa, despite Sabatini's surprise.



https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2021/10/27/i-am-amazed-pundit-cannot-believe-liverpool-did-not-sign-12-5m-star-this-summer/

WhiteJC

Opinion: Liverpool may not be the worst landing spot for talented Fulham teenager amid potential transfer tussle

Fulham began the the 2021-22 Championship season like a high-speed train as they steamrolled through teams to go unbeaten in their first five matches.

Aside from a draw with Middlesbrough on the opening day, the Cottagers racked up four successive victories against Huddersfield Town, Millwall, Hull City and Stoke City and perhaps the standout player in that period wasn't Aleksandar Mitrovic but it was Fabio Carvalho.

After appearing in some cup games earlier last season, Carvalho was thrown into the mix in the Premier League by Scott Parker at the back end of the campaign when the Cottagers were close to being relegated from the top flight.

The teenager had excelled at under-23 level at just 18 years old and he repaid the faith shown in him by Parker just days after the club's drop into the Championship was confirmed when he netted his first senior goal against Southampton.

Carvalho was always likely to be in and around the first-team this season but the arrival of Marco Silva as head coach will have only strengthened his chances, with the attacking midfielder born in Portugal much like his new manager.

After featuring in pre-season, Carvalho was flung into the starting line-up against Middlesbrough and started in all five league matches in August – his impact was immediate as he scored three times and assisted one goal in that time period.

Performances like that get you noticed and with Carvalho's deal expiring at the end of the season, panic stations began to set in with fans in regards to the youngster's future – even with Silva revealing that speculation will not affect Carvalho.

A plethora of teams have been linked – Real Madrid, Barcelona, Leeds United, Southampton just to name a few, but as Football League World exclusively reported this week it's now Liverpool who have entered the running for the 19-year-old.

With all the clubs linked with Carvalho it could be an intense tug of war, and if you have to think about his short-term future in terms of game-time then you could argue that staying at Fulham for a bit longer is the best option.

But Liverpool's interest is an intriguing one as you only have to look at the development of Harvey Elliott – who they also got from Fulham – to see that Jurgen Klopp is keen to give young players time on the pitch if they're good enough.

Following a loan spell at Blackburn Rovers, Elliott was in Klopp's starting 11 at the beginning of the campaign before a horrific injury and Carvalho was showing the electric kind of form that Elliott himself was producing for Rovers last season – if not better.

It's only a small sample size to look at as the England youth international has not been seen since the September international break, owing to a foot injury, but Carvalho is definitely an exciting talent.

Fulham have a bit of a dilemma though – with no new contract signed yet with things going quiet on that front, do the club cash in to a Premier League side or risk losing him for free at the end of the season?

It's a tricky one to navigate but if Liverpool is Carvalho's destination then from what we've seen with the likes of Elliott, Curtis Jones and Trent Alexander-Arnold over the last few years, there probably won't be many better big teams to go to in terms of his potential development.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/opinion-liverpool-may-not-be-the-worst-landing-spot-for-talented-fulham-teenager-amid-potential-transfer-tussle/

WhiteJC

Board Elections

We are now inviting nominations for members to join the board; the formal 14 day nomination period runs from 27 October until 10 November. In this election we are looking to elect up to five board members, for terms of up to 3 years.

The current board is made up of 12 volunteer members who each take responsibility for specific areas of Trust activity. Four elected board members – Ian Clarke, Chris Gilbertson, Sue Couch and Owen Smith – are at the and of their current terms and are entitled to stand again if they so choose. A fifth elected board member, Derek Brewer, has decided to step down a year early on health grounds.

In normal times, we hold a face to face evening board meeting once per month and we also meet the Club monthly at Motspur Park usually on a Monday lunchtime. During the current pandemic, video conference calls are being held to replace both of these face to face meetings.

Although our meeting with Fulham is often the most visible part of our work, we undertake a wide variety of other activities on behalf of Fulham supporters and are also members of the Metropolitan Police Independent Advisory Group and affiliated to the Football Supporters' Association (the national umbrella body for Trusts). You can read about the full range of activity undertaken by the Trust board on our web site.

We are looking for members from across our fanbase with the time, skills, enthusiasm and ideas to join the board and take responsibility for some of our growing range of activities; we would particularly encourage those with expertise in design, video or co-ordinating events to get involved, but most important is your commitment to helping build the supporter voice at Fulham.

We would also like to see our board become more representative of the diverse nature of our fanbase, so we hope that you will consider either putting yourself forward or encouraging others you know as there is much to do. You can read full details of the process below.

Thank you again for your membership and support of the Trust.

Yours, on behalf of the current FST Board

Tom Greatrex
Chair
Election process and rules

The election will be held in accordance with the election rules and the process will be overseen by an Independent Scrutineer, Jonathan Cope, who is a Trust member but is neither a candidate nor nominating or seconding a candidate.

To be eligible to stand for election, the only requirements are that

    you are a paid-up Trust member as at 1 October 2021
    you are nominated and seconded by paid-up Trust members as at 1 October 2021.

Information required

You will need to supply contact information for yourself and those nominating and seconding you and a 200 word election statement that will be sent out with the electronic voting forms if there are more nominations than places available for election. The election statements of all successful candidates will be made available at the conclusion of the process.

Please supply the following information by email to the Independent Scrutineer by Wednesday 10 November 2021 using the following email address

[email protected]
Candidate

    Name
    email address
    Telephone
    Social media

Proposed by

    Member name
    email address
    Telephone

Seconded by

    Member name
    email address
    Telephone

Statement

    A maximum of 200 words to support your candidacy. Any additional words will be truncated.

Election timetable
Nominations

    Wednesday 27 October 2021 – Nominations open
    Wednesday 10 November 2021 – Nominations close

If no ballot required

    Thursday 11 November 2021 – Announcement of new board at AGM

If ballot required

    Thursday 11 November 2021 – Announcement of ballot at AGM
    Saturday 13 November 2021 – Electronic ballot and candidate statements circulated to Trust members
    Saturday 27 November 2021 – Close of voting
    Monday 29 November 2021 – Announcement of election results



https://www.fulhamsupporterstrust.com/news/2021/10/board-elections/


WhiteJC

Return of revered captain Tom Cairney has put Fulham's promotion bid back on track
There are few better sights in football for a Fulham fan than watching the club captain return from a long injury and smash a perfect half-volley into the roof of the net at the Hammersmith end against Cardiff City.

Sentiment shared by the goalscorer as well it seems, as the emotion on Tom Cairney's face in the immediate aftermath was palpable.

A nasty knee injury kept him off the pitch for ten months, but the 30-year-old clearly didn't lose his exquisite ball-striking ability during his layoff, nor did he lose his passion for the club that holds him in such high regard.

"It was really important for Tom to come back with the goal," Marco Silva told Sky Sports after the game. "And he deserves it after the last few months that have been so tough. It is easy to understand how he celebrated the goal, his feelings at that moment."

That goal was followed by a full 90 minutes against Nottingham Forest four days later – Cairney's first since December 19th 2020.

Now a true custodian of the club, Tom Cairney's presence around Motspur Park and at the Cottage is a major boost for Fulham at a significant time.

Cairney's midfield versatility
Cairney has played in a number of midfield roles during his tenure at the Cottage with Slaviša Jokanović making him a midfield pivot in his promotion-winning side, encouraging him to get on the ball as much as possible, often making him the catalyst for most Fulham attacks.

Under Scott Parker, he wasn't afforded the same freedom and couldn't influence the game as much due to Parker's possession-based brand of football meaning more patient build-up and backward passes, with nowhere near as much aggressive, front-foot attacking.

Against Forest last week, Cairney replaced dogged ball-winner Harrison Reed in midfield, who has been allowed to roam further forward this season under Silva.

In that role, Cairney proved that along with his arsenal of refined passing and devastating finishing, he still had the tenacity needed to fill that gap and make life difficult for the opposing midfield.

Could this role be his future under Marco Silva? Busy work in front of the back-four combined with the freedom to get involved in bursting counter-attacks.

Jean Michael Seri has excelled this season in a similar but slightly deeper role than Cairney under Jokanović – constantly drifting into space and forever on the lookout for a killer pass.

Furthermore, the arrival of Domingos Quina and Nathaniel Chalobah have provided a lot of competition for places, so Cairney will have to continue delivering Silva the evidence that he's the man for the job.

But even if Cairney doesn't start every game, having the club captain fit and ready to come on in an already stacked midfield is a great option to have heading into a hectic winter period.



https://londonfootballscene.co.uk/2021/10/27/return-of-revered-captain-tom-cairney-has-put-fulhams-promotion-bid-back-on-track/

gerrys

Quote from: whitejc on October 28, 2021, 12:26:28 AM
'I am amazed': Pundit cannot believe Liverpool did not sign £12.5m star this summer

Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa followed his second relegation with Fulham by securing a transfer to Lazio, but Walter Sabatini cannot believe Liverpool did not sign the midfielder.

Anguissa has thrived since leaving England for Italy and has become a vital presence in the Biancocelesti unit. Luciano Spalletti has started the 25-year-old in all seven available Serie A fixtures since completing a Deadline Day loan, including a €15m (£12.5m) option to buy.

The Cameroon international has delivered consistently impressive showings for the Stadio Olimpico side, as well. Delighting Spalletti and Cristiano Giuntoli, Lazio's Sporting Director, with his exceptional impact, strength and intelligence on and off the field.

Anguissa's performances with Lazio have left Sabatini in shock that no Premier League side, including Liverpool, secured his transfer instead. The former Biancocelesti Sporting Director firmly believes the 29-cap enforcer is good enough for any of England's title-chasing clubs.

"Anguissa's shot was fantastic," Sabatini told CalcioNapoli24. "I don't understand how [anyone in] the Premier League didn't notice [his ability]. I am amazed that the two Manchester teams, Chelsea and Liverpool did not arrive on a Fulham player."

Should Liverpool have signed Anguissa before Lazio transfer?

Anguissa made 36 appearances in the Premier League last term, but could not stop Fulham falling back into the Championship. He also made 22 outings in the English top-flight for the Cottagers in 2018/19 as they were relegated, following a £30m move from Marseille.

Some Premier League clubs did explore poaching the midfielder from Craven Cottage after his latest relegation in west London. The Daily Mail noted Arsenal, Aston Villa and Everton wanted him in May, but Fulham demanded £20m at the time.

Liverpool, meanwhile, enjoyed a quiet transfer window – especially in midfield – as Jurgen Klopp was happy with his options, despite losing Georginio Wijnaldum, suggesting why the Reds did not try to beat Lazio to a transfer for Anguissa, despite Sabatini's surprise.



https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2021/10/27/i-am-amazed-pundit-cannot-believe-liverpool-did-not-sign-12-5m-star-this-summer/

And there's me thinking that he had gone to Napoli  :023: .......some rubbish reporting around  :005: