Saturday Fulham Stuff - 06/11/21...

[WhiteJC]

Hector starts: The predicted Fulham XI to face Peterborough on Saturday

Fulham are absolutely flying at the moment and they'll be eager to head into the next international break with one more important win under their belts.

The Lilywhites have been brilliant since the last international break in October, scoring goals for fun and conceding just the once in the league, suggesting something has really clicked under Marco Silva.

Indeed, the 7-0 demolition job of Blackburn Rovers earlier this week underlined just how strong they're feeling right now and you can imagine Peterborough United are feeling wary ahead of this weekend's game against them.

Marco Silva, then, will surely be looking to name as similar side as possible ahead of this one:

The attacking four rather picks itself right now which says a lot with Fabio Carvalho now back available.

In midfield, Silva has sought to rotate the likes of Harrison Reed, Jean Michael Seri and Tom Cairney, so we could see the latter come in for the former here.

Defensively, Fulham have looked massively settled since the last international break and that's even with Michael Hector coming in for Tosin after the latter earned a suspension against West Brom. That continues this weekend so Hector should retain his place.

Marek Rodak, meanwhile, has taken his chance to re-establish himself with both hands and should continue in goal.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/hector-starts-the-predicted-fulham-xi-to-face-peterborough-on-saturday/

[WhiteJC]

Bournemouth, Fulham and West Brom threaten to make Championship a three-horse race

The three sides, all of whom have recent Premier League experience and boast squads packed with top-end talent, have cut away from the chasing pack in the race for promotion already

There is a trend starting to emerge at the top of the Championship.

The top three - Bournemouth, Fulham and West Bromwich Albion - are threatening to run away with proceedings as the season progresses.

The latter two were relegated from the Premier League last season whilst Bournemouth exited a year prior; all three have squads that would not look out of place in the top flight and the summer saw them all strengthen considerably once more.

The spending on wages and transfer fees by the aforementioned trio was eye-raising, in a summer when most clubs outside the Premier League have largely been restricted to frees or loans.

Will another side be able to break into the top two this season? Let us know in the comments section


Bournemouth have made a superb start to the season, losing just one of their opening 16 league games

Fulham's £12million purchase of Harry Wilson was by far and away the most expensive deal to be ratified in the division, whilst Bournemouth's signing of Gary Cahill, Robbie Brady and Ryan Christie will have been looked at enviously by most other teams in the second tier.

Albion might not have spent a penny on transfer fees but they already possessed a more-than-decent squad for this level and the arrival of Alex Mowatt and Jordan Hugill only strengthened that.

It is no surprise that these three sides were inserted as favourites to win promotion by the bookmakers.

As it stands there is a four-point buffer between the third-placed Baggies and fourth-placed Coventry. The gap between the Sky Blues and Bournemouth is 10 already.

The Cherries might have tasted defeat for the first time all season on Wednesday night - Preston pulling off a shock, but deserved, 2-1 win at the Vitality - but they look a good bet to last the distance and remain in the top two come May.

Indeed, boss Scott Parker - who swapped Craven Cottage for the south coast in the summer - believes the defeat will actually stand them in good stead.

"It's very easy winning football matches or 15 unbeaten, you often find that the train just rolls and you don't really get to know what your team is about, or how much you can improve," says the ex-England international.

"We've got a very good habit of analysing things, but certainly in adversity or when things go wrong, that's when you can really gauge or you can develop a team.

"You can develop individuals because these are the moments that test people. I say test people. We've lost one game out of 16 and we've had an incredible start to the season, so I'm very steady and very level in my thinking in what I'm saying.

"But of course it's the first time we've experienced this, so now we'll improve, we'll get better for this and we'll go again."

For Fulham, they are the form side in the division as evidenced by their destruction of Blackburn. Their 7-0 triumph at Ewood Park took their tally in the league to a whopping 43 goals after just 16 outings.

Of course, it helps when you have a striker who is in lethal form and it seems only a matter of when, not if, Aleksandar Mitrovic will break the Championship's goalscoring record.

With 19 already, he is only 13 goals away from breaking Ivan Toney's record which was set last season.

As for Albion, they will readily admit they have not been as consistent as their two promotion rivals but they have been able to grind out results - documented by their gritty 1-0 win over Hull.

That maintained their strong home form, where they remain unbeaten.

Manager Valerien Ismael referenced his frustrations at Hull's gameplan on Wednesday: "Hull City came here to stick six buses in front of goal but it was about being patient and finding the solution."

Saturday sees all three sides in action at 3pm and offers the chance for them to increase the gap on the chasing pack, before another international break.

Parker's Bournemouth will look to bounce back from that Preston defeat when they welcome Swansea, whilst Fulham travel to Peterborough and the Baggies welcome Middlesbrough to the Hawthorns.

Each will enter their respective match as favourites. Each knows only victory will suffice.




https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/bournemouth-fulham-wba-efl-championship-25384507

[WhiteJC]

Liverpool reportedly in pole position to sign Fabio Carvalho but do the Reds need a central play-maker?

According to a report from TEAMtalk, Liverpool are best placed to land Fulham star Fabio Carvalho, but would he fit the current system at Anfield?

The Reds are reportedly "confident of securing the signature for Carvalho" despite interest from Benfica, Porto, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Lyon and Monaco.

Fulham's final contract offer to the 19-year-old has been rejected and the Reds are allegedly in pole position to sign him for free in July 2022 but where would he fit in at Anfield?

Would Carvalho suit Liverpool?

The Portugal-born Englishman can play on either flank but he has thrived in a central attacking midfield role for Fulham, where he can best utilise his passing and dribbling.

Since Philippe Coutinho left the club in 2018, Jurgen Klopp has turned to Andy Robertson, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Roberto Firmino for creativity and the final pass.

If Liverpool want to return to a system that relies on a no.10 for creativity then they will both need someone of a higher calibre than Carvalho and will also need to move away from employing Firmino in the false nine role.

This has already happened to an extent with Diogo Jota moving into a central striker role this season. But signing a no.10 would require Trent and Robertson to become more defensive-minded.

It seems like too much of a gamble when the current system is working so well and, if Liverpool want to excel, they need to improve on the personnel already in set roles.



https://www.rousingthekop.com/2021/11/05/liverpool-reportedly-in-pole-position-to-sign-fabio-carvalho-but-do-the-reds-need-a-central-play-maker/

[WhiteJC]

How Mitro shook 'bad boy' tag to become Fulham icon
Aleksandar Mitrovic is still considered a disciplinary liability by those who remain misinformed – and Rhys is on hand to abolish that outdated pigeonhole.

Mitro is the hottest striker in the country. Scoring 19 goals across 16 Championship outings gives him a goals-per-minute ratio of 73 – having scored at least seven more than any other professional forward in England this season.

The Serbian icon has fired the club to within two points of top spot with five memorable consecutive victories and, perhaps more importantly, four points clear of West Brom in third.

The complete veneration of Mitrovic has help lift a dark cloud from over Craven Cottage after a dismal culmination to last season's once promising attempt of survival.

The most distressing ingredient of yet another calamitous Premier League campaign was Parker's snubbing of our prized asset, which followed a career best season during 2019/20.

While the plaudits returned concurrently with his relentless flurry of recent goals – the commanding forward still carries a 'bad boy' tag that has not been accurate since his first months in England.

While the former Anderlecht star did receive two red cards during his penultimate season in Belgium, and another two across his first campaign at St James' Park, that marked the end of his early baths in English football.

Mitrovic has never been sent off across 147 appearances for Fulham, receiving only 26 yellow cards in that period – and only three so far this season.

One caveat might well be the backdated suspension the 27-year-old received after a clash with Ben White during 2019/20 – but that was not in keeping with his combative but controlled attacking attributes of the past five years.

Following his dismissal against Arsenal in the first few weeks after his move to the Premier League, Mitrovic insisted that he would do his best to keep his cool on the pitch.

Bad reputation
He told the Mirror: "I've learned a lot from this red card. I want to show I can control my aggression and stay calm. I hope I can show everybody in the next few weeks that I am a calm guy."

Six years on and Mitrovic has fulfilled that heartfelt promise, again proving to be the most reliable and consistent striker in the Championship as well as the most prolific in England's top four tiers.

Already looking certain to surpass his previous best tally of 26, with eyes on Ivan Toney's record of 31 since the 2004 rebrand, his form is made all the more impressive by the uncertainty over his future earlier in the year.

As recently as May, reports swirled that Mitrovic would be on his way out of West London following just 13 Premier League starts from a possible 30 under Scott Parker.

Exit wounds
Mitrovic had fallen in love with Fulham during his loan spell, and first promotion with the club, back in 2017/18, subsequently signing a five-year deal that summer and adding a year extension following relegation.

With Parker opting to alter his system in 2020/21 in a bid to avoid the same outcome he oversaw as caretaker – Mitrovic was earmarked as very much a plan B.

Parker's decision to walk away and join Bournemouth gave Mitrovic the fresh start he was craving, but only the most optimistic of fans could've envisaged just how prolific his opening months to the season would've been.

Back In black (and white)
Marco Silva's Fulham are not only the highest scoring team in the Championship, but the highest scoring professional team in England as we approach the mid-way stage of the season.

While our Portuguese boss has been keen for focus to remain on the collective rather than the brilliance of an individual – there is no hiding the fact that Mitrovic is in the form of his life.

The man for both the routine triumphs as well as the big occasion, Mitrovic fired home a treble against the best defence in the league – and has now scored game-winning goals in three of our last five victories – not unlike a certain Portuguese forward elsewhere.

With fixtures coming up against 20th placed Peterborough, 22nd placed Barnsley, last-placed Derby and 15th placed Preston before the end of the month – the present and future look very bright for both Fulham and their talisman.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2021-11-05-how-mitro-shook-bad-boy-tag-to-become-fulham-icon/

[WhiteJC]

Up next: Peterborough United (a)

Fulham were flawless at Ewood Park on Wednesday and relentlessly ripped through a demoralised Blackburn Rovers, reduced to ten men, until the final whistle. It was another dominant display that extended Marco Silva's winning run to five and an extension of their excellent response to that awful afternoon in the Coventry rain at the start of October. This being the Championship, though, there is no time for the Whites to rest on their laurels and Silva's side face a testing trip to Peterborough on Saturday before another international break disrupts the domestic schedule.

Peterborough might be one of the division's unfancied sides but, under the careful stewardship of chairman Darragh MacAnthony and canny management of Darren Ferguson, they are making a decent fist of remaining in the Championship so far. The Posh, whose policy of developing and selling on outstanding young talent has allowed them to remain financially stable at a time when most EFL clubs have been hit hard by coronavirus, have an excellent home record and have taken seven points from their last four fixtures to move four points clear of the relegation zone.

They grabbed a late draw against Huddersfield Town in midweek, with Jonson Clarke-Harris – a scorer of 33 goals last season as United won League One – grabbing a late equaliser. How Ferguson deploys his attacking resources will be interesting. Clarke-Harris, a renowned poacher who isn't afraid to outmuscle defenders, may come into a side that already boasts Sammie Szmodics and Siriki Dembele, a previously longstanding Fulham target. The manager, who took charge of his 500th Posh game against the Terriers, is confident of being able to 'give Fulham a game' given that his side have held Bournemouth at home this season and beaten Queens Park Rangers.

He will be without the services of suspended centre back Nathan Thompson, with former Colchester defender Frankie Kent likely to step up after missing the last five fixtures. The hosts are still likely to be missing Joel Randall and Jack Marriott, although left-back Dan Butler should be available for selection. Fulham have never won a league fixture at Peterborough and Silva's side will need to show more intensity and ingenuity than they mustered at either Blackpool or Coventry to avoid another slip-up.

They should travel to Cambridgeshire in good spirits following the demolition job at Blackburn on Wednesday night. The introduction of Michael Hector for the banned Tosin Adarabioyo passed off without any significant alarms and the pair that performed so well together at the tail end of the 2020/21 promotion campaign should remain in place here. Silva would be expected to keep faith with the eleven that scored seven in Lancashire but he does have the luxury of substitutes in fine form. Tom Cairney came on to create goals against his former employers, whilst Rodrigo Muniz supplied a couple of fine finishes in the space of ten minutes to deepen Blackburn's misery.

The Whites possess plenty of quality in possession and have finally put together a consistent run that has created both a little cushion between themselves and West Brom in third as well as narrowing the gap to Bournemouth, whose first defeat of the season was a lovely little tonic on Wednesday. But all of that will count for nothing if Fulham's attitude and execution are lacking against Peterborough: it will be a unique experience against a side eager to add another scalp and not afraid of a scrap. Silva's stars will need to be up for the fight in order to come away with all three points.

MY FULHAM XI (4-2-3-1): Rodak; Tete, Robinson, Hector, Ream; Reed, Seri; Wilson, Kebano, Decordova-Reid; Mitrovic. Subs: Gazzaniga, Odoi, Mawson, Onomah, Carvalho, Cairney, Muniz.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2021/11/up-next-peterborough-united-a/

[WhiteJC]

Cavaleiro and Chalobah still out as Fulham chase sixth straight win

Fulham will again be without Ivan Cavaleiro and Nathaniel Chalobah at Peterborough as the club goes in search of a sixth straight win.

The midfield pair have injuries that will keep them out until after the international break.

But otherwise boss Marco Silva has a full complement following the 7-0 demolition of Blackburn on Wednesday.

"What we had on Wednesday is not something normal at this level," Silva said.

"What we did after the (first) two goals and the (Blackburn) red card was to respect our performance, to keep going, and respect our fans.

"I was also pleased with the clean sheet, but in the end it was just three points."



https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/fulham-duo-to-miss-peterborough-game

[WhiteJC]

Pre-Peterborough Press Conference

Fulham's remarkable victory at Blackburn Rovers is now the last thing on Marco Silva's mind, as we head straight back into Championship action at the weekend.

Silva led his side to a stunning 7-0 triumph on Wednesday, but when asked if such a victory was given any special acknowledgement, he replied: "To be honest, no.

"After the game we start to go to the next page, and [the players] know how important Saturday is for us. They know how important the impact will be of the last five wins in a row – the impact will be bigger if we can get the next one.

"We're happy because we achieved the three points, that was the main thing for us, with a clean sheet which was our fourth in a row and really important as well.

"After one hour [following the game] we were already on the plane coming back to rest and to start recovering our players. And yesterday was another normal day for us, nothing changed, and this afternoon we will again have a training session.

"In our mind, it's so clear what we want to do in each game. When one finishes and something's gone wrong, of course we are not happy, we analyse and we go to the next one. And when we win, we'll do the same.

"Nothing's changed – we're happy of course, we saw some players scoring goals and helping the team. It was a big boost in their confidence and for the team as well.

"Again, it's just three points, it's done. I'm happy for that, but we are on a different page already, and that's Peterborough."

The freshly promoted Posh have been difficult to beat on their own patch so far, with 12 of their 15 points coming at the Weston Homes Stadium.

"Tough game," Silva admitted. "They want to get as many points as they can to remain in this league, and they are doing it.

"They are always fighting, they are always trying to do it. They will respect us, but they will do 100 per cent what they can to get points from the game.

"They are playing at home, for sure their fans will create a good atmosphere around them. It's a tough place to go to play.

"We know our quality but we respect them as well. It's up to us to play in our best level, to make it a good afternoon, and to keep doing the right things, not just with the ball but without the ball.

"Keep being aggressive, keep being solid and compact as a team, know the good moments to press the opposition as well. And when we have the ball, create the chances to score.

"We are in a very good moment, our players know it, but the next one is always the most important for us."

Fulham's away allocation of 2,500 sold out this week, with the Club being granted an additional number of tickets to ensure there will be a hefty following for the short journey north.

"It's fantastic," Silva said. "At the end of the day, it's everything in football.

"Of course without the results we can't achieve what we want, but the main thing is when you feel that the people around you, the people who support you and love the Club, are proud of you.

"I think it's the best feeling that you can have in football. Aside from the titles that you can win, there are two things that are really important; enjoy what you are doing when achieving good results, and make your fans proud.

"If you are winning games and having that feeling that your fans are proud of you, not just because you are winning but because of the way you are playing as well, I think that's everything in football.

"And if they are proud, that's a big boost for us in terms of confidence. We feel that, but we cannot stop working because we know every single week comes a different challenge for us.

"The opposition sides want points, like us, they are fighting like us for the points. Each game is a new story and you have to create the conditions for it to be another good story for us."



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2021/november/05/pre-peterborough-press-conference/

[WhiteJC]

Carvhalho warned uncertainty over his future is 'not helpful'

Fabio Carvalho has been warned that speculation surrounding his future is 'not helpful'.

The Fulham teenage talent has turned down the latest improved contract offer to keep him at the club beyond the end of the season.

Manager Marco Silva has made it clear he believes signing a new deal would be in Carvalho's interests.

"I'd like to see a talent like Fabio's with calmness, and not with these rumours around a 19-year-old, because that's not helpful for him, for sure," Silva said.

"We have so many examples of this type of thing that happen in the wrong way, and players that disappear."

Silva also questioned whether Carvalho is getting the right kind of advice.

He said: "I would not like to see more months and months until the end of the season.

"But it's not something that's in our hands, and not just Fabio's, but somebody getting behind him, and I can't control it.

"I (hope) people who are advising him don't want to get just one shot; one contract and that will be the career of the player.

"He knows my position for him, not just for the club, but as a football player, and now I'm focused on him on the pitch, because the other things I cannot control."



https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/fulham-star-warned-uncertainty-over-his-future-is-not-helpful

[WhiteJC]

Peterborough United's 100% winning record against Fulham, the Cottagers' part in a Posh club record and the greatest goal ever scored at London Road
Peterborough United are protecting a 100% winning record against Fulham in Football League matches.

Okay it's only two games and they took place in the old Third Division during one of the most memorable seasons in Posh history.

Posh thumped Fulham 4-1 at London Road in January, 1992 with two goals from Tony Adcock and one apiece from Worrell Sterling and Marcus Ebdon in front of just under 5,000 fans.

The win lifted Posh to a modest 11th place, but when Chris Turner's side won 1-0 at Craven Cottage in front of just over 5,000 fans the following month an unlikely push for back-to-back promotions had started.

Adcock was again the scorer as Posh completed a third Football League win a row, a run that stretched to a club record nine games and eventually led to promotion to the second tier for the first time in the club's history.

The nine-game winning streak started at home to Reading on (5-3) on February 1 and ended with a 1-0 home win over Shrewsbury on March 14.

Also beaten were Hartlepool (1-0), Stockport (3-2), Fulham (1-0), Bolton (1-0), Huddersfield (2-0), Bournemouth (2-1) and Chester (4-2) .

Bradford City stopped the run reaching double figures with a 2-1 win at Valley Parade.

Posh went on to finish sixth in Division Three, but won the play-offs after unforgettable successes against Huddersfield and Stockport County, the latter on the club's first trip to Wembley Stadium.

Posh v Fulham (home): Barber, Luke, R. Robinson, D. Robinson, Welsh, Halsall, Ebdon, Sterling, Adcock, Charlery, Kimble. Sub used: Butterworth,

Gary Cooper replaced Marcus Ebdon and Bobby Barnes came in for Garry Kimble for the game at Craven Cottage.

Also that season Posh reached the quarter-finals of the League Cup after beating Liverpool, Newcastle and First Division Wimbledon, They lost at Middlesbrough in a quarter-final replay.

**The greatest goal ever seen at London Road was scored by George Best for Fulham in a 2-1 League Cup win over Posh in January, 1977. Best flicked the ball up 25 yards from goal before volleying it into the top corner. England's World Cup winning captain Bobby Moore and Rodney Marsh also played for Posh that night.



https://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/sport/football/peterborough-united/peterborough-uniteds-100-winning-record-against-fulham-the-cottagers-part-in-a-posh-club-record-and-the-greatest-goal-ever-scored-at-london-road-3446378

[WhiteJC]

Araujo and Olakigbe earn England U18s call ups

Fulham pair Harvey Araujo and Michael Olakigbe have been named in the England under 18 squad for the forthcoming Pinatar tournament in Spain.

Defender Araujo made his under 18 international debut as a substitute against Norway in October before making a first start at this level against Russia four days later. Winger Michael Olakigbe was also handed his first appearances for the England under 18s during that same camp by new coach Ryan Garry – scoring and adding an assist in the 3-0 win over the Russians.

Garry has named a 24-man squad for the friendly tournament which sees England take on Holland on 11 November, Belgium on 13 November and Portugal on 15 November.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2021/11/araujo-and-olakigbe-earn-england-u18s-call-ups/

[WhiteJC]

Why our reaction to Carvalho's rejection matters
Tim urges caution in our reaction to Carvalho's contract rejection as other youngsters might be watching.

August was a hell of a time to be a Fulham fan.

Fabio Carvalho scores against Huddersfield and celebrates by tapping the badge. Cue rapture from the travelling fans. The following week against Millwall, he scores and celebrates with his hands at his ears, a la Sessegnon at The Den in 2018. He makes it three from three the week after and sends the fanbase to empyrean heights. At this stage, he is quickly emerging as Cairney's heir apparent, and having been with the club since he was 12 years old; he seems to know and love the folklore.

Needless to say, the news that he refused to sign a bumper contract has not been received well. And understandably so. It seems to fly in the face of his previous conduct, as well as common sense. But where we as a fanbase go next from here is critical.

It's safe to say that the decision to leave is not a no-brainer. After all, he has a big money offer on the table, and an established place in a team that seems to be heading to the Premier League. A move away is laced with uncertainty. Better the devil you know, as they say.

Let's imagine then that Fab is weighing up his options at the moment. Imagine that he gets on Twitter and sees every man and his dog with FFC in his username, slating him as a traitor who should rot with the reserves. Could that end up being the straw that breaks the camel's back?

It's easy to be pissed at Fab. Shooting off an aggressive tweet might even feel cathartic. But it's likely to be counterproductive. Our anger might just be the thing that cements his decision if there were any doubts left in his mind. There has to be a better way to express our genuinely felt sentiment; instead of fury, sadness. Instead of spite, belief in his capacity, and the desire for that to be realised at Fulham.

I know goodwill from the fans might pale in comparison to the suitcases of money being forklifted in his living room by Florentino Perez. But the reality is, we don't have a seat at that table. We need to find the spheres in which we have some influence. All we have is public discourse. All we can do is make him know that he is wanted at SW6 and let the dice fall as they may.

Maybe I'm being a blind optimist. Maybe I'm overstating the power of public opinion. Maybe Fabio is on his way, no matter how many of us show up outside his door with recordings of carollers and cardboard signs that read 'To me, you are perfect.' But the way we conduct ourselves will echo in the ears of every future prospect coming through the academy. Consider the Jay Stanfields or Sonny Hiltons of the world.

We can sing their names to the rooftops of Craven Cottage (optimistic), but deep down they will see what happens the moment they make indications they might want to go elsewhere. They will know that the love echoing from the stands is conditional. And conditional love is no love at all. The best way to turn players into mercenaries is to treat them as such: making them persona non grata before they have even moved on.

It's worth considering Mitro here. No one could have blamed him for moving on after either of our relegations. But it seems as though he loves Fulham, because Fulham loves him! Even in his drier spells, his name was sung and chanted, and we are reaping the harvest of that love now. Evidently, there is a good case to be made that players move or stay because of a fanbase. We just need to be a fanbase that engenders that kind of love from a player like Carvalho.

Realistically, we will probably still lose Fabio. But if we go about it well, it might go some way in keeping the next whizkid who emerges from Motspur Park.

I hope I am wrong, but Fabi, we hardly knew ye...



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2021-11-05-why-our-reaction-to-carvalhos-rejection-matters/

[WhiteJC]

Peterborough Tickets Extremely Limited

Fans wishing to attend Fulham's match away to Peterborough United on Saturday are advised that tickets are now extremely limited.

The Club was given an initial away allocation of just under 2,500 at the Weston Homes Stadium, which has now sold out.

Peterborough have, however, made additional tickets available to Fulham fans. These can be purchased directly from our hosts by following this link.

Please make sure you purchase in the section named 'A Upper.' You will be required to register before your purchase can go through. Your ticket will then be sent to you as a PDF via email.

Tickets will be available via the aforementioned link up until kick-off, but there will be a £2 price increase on the day of the game.

Those collecting tickets pre-purchased through the Fulham Ticket Office can pick these up from the Ticket Collection Booth which is located opposite the Main Ticket Office near the statue at the front of the Weston Homes Stadium.



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2021/november/02/peterborough-tickets-extremely-limited/

[WhiteJC]

Muniz Loving Life

Fresh from his brace at Ewood Park, Rodrigo Muniz spoke of his contentment with his new life in SW6.

The 20-year-old has needed to be patient since his summer arrival from Brazil, but demonstrated his talent once again with some classy finishes against Blackburn Rovers.

"I enjoyed it very much and I was happy for the two goals, but most importantly I was happy for the fans," Muniz told fulhamfc.com. "I enjoyed having them there.

"The fans have shown me a lot of love from day one, and so have my teammates. They have supported me a lot which has helped me to settle in.

"It's helped a lot that the team has been so welcoming. It's the first season that I've been away from home, and my teammates have made everything so much easier, so I love them for that."

Unfortunately for Muniz, his competition for the one striker's spot comes from the most prolific man in the country right now.

But our number 19 has taken that challenge with both hands, relishing the opportunity to try and match those levels set by Aleksandar Mitrović.

"In training I'm always learning from Mitro, who's having such a great season so far," he explained. "I've been able to pick things up from Mitro.

"It's a learning curve, but when my chance comes I'll look forward to taking it, like I did against Blackburn.

"Obviously because Mitro is playing so well, whenever I have the chance to come on I have to keep up the same rhythm as him, if not better than him.

"That's what I'm looking to do, but working with Mitro does bring out the best in me.

"The Gaffer has given me a lot of confidence, too. He gave me a chance on Wednesday and I was able to take it."

Fulham will be backed by more than 2,650 supporters in Peterborough on Saturday, and Muniz hopes they can roar his side to another prosperous away day.

"The fans always help us a lot," he said. "They bring out the best in the players because they are always shouting and screaming, backing the team, and that really helps when you're on the pitch. I'm looking forward to seeing them.

"We have won our last five, which is very good for the whole team because the target is to win the Championship and get automatic promotion to the Premier League.

"These wins now will help us in the future so now we just need to keep the run going.

"It's important before the international break that we have a good game against Peterborough. We trained well today and we'll be looking to get the three points."



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2021/november/05/muniz-loving-life/

[WhiteJC]

Peterborough Matchday Preview

Peterborough United v Fulham | Saturday 6th November 2021 | 3pm | Weston Homes Stadium | #PETFUL

The opposition

    After finishing second in League One last season, Peterborough have begun the current campaign solidly enough, though they are fairly reliant on their home form, with 12 of their 15 points accrued at the Weston Homes Stadium.
    The Posh strung together back-to-back wins for the first time recently when they dispatched both Hull and QPR, but they were comfortably beaten by Swansea City at the weekend.
    Manager Darren Ferguson is currently in his third spell at the club, in which time he's won promotion on four occasions. Their Huddersfield draw in midweek was his 500th match in charge of Peterborough.

Peterborough team news

A fifth booking of the season for Nathan Thompson on Tuesday rules the experienced centre-back out of the weekend's action, while injuries will keep Jack Marriott, Joel Randall and Ricky-Jade Jones sidelined.

Fulham team news

Tosin has two more games to go of his ban, and Ivan Cavaleiro, Tyrese Francois and Nathaniel Chalobah are still injured.

Tickets

After selling out our initial allocation of tickets, we have been given a fresh batch which can be purchased online up until kick-off. All details can be found here.

Weather

It will be a fairly mild day considering the time of year, with temperatures around 12 degrees in a dry Peterborough.

Coverage

International subscribers will be able to watch a live stream on FFCtv. Coverage starts at 2.30pm (GMT), featuring an exclusive pre-match interview with Neeskens Kebano. Domestic fans can listen to live commentary from Gentleman Jim and Jamie Reid.

Player insight

Rodrigo Muniz knows the importance of finishing this period of football with another positive result ahead of the international break.

"We have won our last five, which is very good for the whole team because the target is to win the Championship and get automatic promotion to the Premier League," he told fulhamfc.com.

"These wins now will help us in the future so now we just need to keep the run going.

"It's important before the international break that we have a good game against Peterborough. We trained well today and we'll be looking to get the three points."

Form

Peterborough: LWWLD

Fulham: WWWWW

Pre-match quotes

"They are a good team, regardless of their result against Blackburn, I would be saying the same things, they have a clear identity in how they play and they have good attacking players."

Darren Ferguson
Peterborough United Manager

"They want to get as many points as they can to remain in this league, and they are doing it. They are always fighting. They will respect us, but they will do 100% what they can to get points from the game."

Marco Silva
Fulham Head Coach

https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2021/november/05/peterborough-matchday-preview/

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Muniz wants to build on Blackburn brace

Brazilian striker Rodrigo Muniz says he is loving life at Fulham – and wants to build on his brace against Blackburn on Wednesday night.

The former Flamengo forward scored twice in the space of ten minutes at Ewood Park in midweek as Fulham put seven goals put ten-man Rovers without reply. The 20 year-old, who combined a poacher's far post finish with a fine header in stoppage time, was delighted to make the most of an opportunity to impress head coach Marco Silva. Muniz told Fulham's official website this afternoon:

"I enjoyed it very much and I was happy for the two goals, but most importantly I was happy for the fans. The fans have shown me a lot of love from day one, and so have my teammates. They have supported me a lot which has helped me to settle in. It's helped a lot that the team has been so welcoming. It's the first season that I've been away from home, and my teammates have made everything so much easier, so I love them for that."

He has had to wait for a first team chance given Aleksandar Mitrovic's outstanding form this term, but Muniz revealed just how much he has taken from training alongside the Serbian striker.

"In training I'm always learning from Mitro, who's having such a great season so far. I've been able to pick things up from Mitro. It's a learning curve, but when my chance comes I'll look forward to taking it, like I did against Blackburn. Obviously because Mitro is playing so well, whenever I have the chance to come on I have to keep up the same rhythm as him, if not better than him. That's what I'm looking to do, but working with Mitro does bring out the best in me. The Gaffer has given me a lot of confidence, too. He gave me a chance on Wednesday and I was able to take it."

Muniz thanked the travelling fans for their vocal support in Lancashire and is excited about the prospect of playing Peterborough in front of a large away following tomorrow.

"The fans always help us a lot. They bring out the best in the players because they are always shouting and screaming, backing the team, and that really helps when you're on the pitch. I'm looking forward to seeing them.

"We have won our last five, which is very good for the whole team because the target is to win the Championship and get automatic promotion to the Premier League. These wins now will help us in the future so now we just need to keep the run going. It's important before the international break that we have a good game against Peterborough. We trained well today and we'll be looking to get the three points.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2021/11/muniz-wants-to-build-on-blackburn-brace/

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Watch Live Overseas This Saturday!

Peterborough United v Fulham is available to watch live on FFCtv for supporters outside the UK & Ireland.

Enjoy live coverage as Fulham play their final match before the November international break, with supporters overseas able to pick up a one-off Peterborough United v Fulham Match Pass for just £10.

Coverage on Saturday 6th November begins at 2:30pm with Ivan Berry catching up with Gentleman Jim, Jamie Reid and Neeskens Kebano in our pre-match show, before the main event begins at 3pm.

Complete with commentary, multi-camera coverage and replays, for supporters outside the UK & Ireland, the 21/22 Season International Live Video Pass also remains available to purchase for £170.

Please note, an FFCtv monthly or 21/22 FFCtv Season Pass (Worldwide - Excludes Live Video) pass will not provide access to watch this match.

FOLLOW THE ACTION ON THE MATCH CENTRE & APP

Live video and live audio commentary is available for this match.

To watch or listen live, fans must have an active FFCtv subscription with the correct entitlements, as well as be logged in to their OneFulham Account.

Supporters can watch or listen from the Peterborough United v Fulham Match Centre on desktop/laptop, at tv.fulhamfc.com or via the Official Fulham FC App.

For matchday support, visit our streaming guide or FAQs, or contact [email protected]



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2021/november/05/watch-live-overseas/

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Silva: Wilson can still improve

Marco Silva says Harry Wilson still needs to improve aspects of his game.

The Fulham winger earned rave reviews for his performance in the 7-0 destruction of Blackburn on Wednesday night, but his manager insists the Wales international is far from the finished product.

"If he shows more calm to make that last pass, or that last decision, with that calm he will get better and better – and score even more goals," Silva said.

Wilson scored twice at Ewood Park to take his tally to five for the season.

Silva added: "Harry has technical qualities and he is also a team player. He enjoys the training sessions, he enjoys the matches and that's the main thing.

"We are really happy to have him here and I just see him improving in the next few weeks. He has the talent."



https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/silva-wilson-can-still-improve

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Silva sees Wilson improvement ahead

Marco Silva believes there is still more to come from Harry Wilson – despite the winger's superb start to his Fulham career.

The former Liverpool wide man scored twice in the 7-0 thrashing at Blackburn on Wednesday and has quickly become one of the most integral parts of Silva's adventurous Fulham side. Wilson has scored five times and added six assists in thirteen appearances for the Whites, but the Portuguese head coach feels the 24 year-old can still take his game to the next level.

Silva told his pre-match press conference yesterday:

"Harry has technical qualities and he is also a team player. He enjoys the training sessions, he enjoys the matches and that's the main thing. We are really happy to have him here and I just see him improving in the next few weeks. He has the talent. If he shows more calm to make that last pass, or that last decision, with that calm he will get better and better – and score even more goals."



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2021/11/silva-sees-wilson-improvement-ahead/

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Peterborough United team news and predicted XI to face Fulham

Peterborough United welcome Fulham to the Weston Homes Stadium this Saturday, as they aim to further distance themselves from the relegation zone.

Posh will be looking to build on their latest draw in midweek, after picking up a point at home to play-off chasing Huddersfield Town.

The Cambridgeshire side go into this weekend's game sat 20th in the Championship, just four points above the relegation zone following Barnsley's latest win. Home form will be a major factor over the course of the season if they are to remain in the second tier, with Darren Ferguson's men picking up 80% of their points this campaign at London Road.

However, they'll be facing a Fulham side brimming with confidence – the Cottagers are currently on a five-game winning streak, with their previous game concluding as a 7-0 thrashing of Blackburn Rovers.

Team news

Posh have seemingly picked up no fresh problems since their midweek game, and are left still dealing from pre-existing injuries in the squad. Striker Jack Marriott is still expected to be out until the end of January with a major hamstring issue.

Young forward Ricky-Jade Jones and summer signing Joel Randall remain sidelined, however both should be back in contention after the upcoming international break.

Unfortunately for Ferguson, he'll be without both experienced and versatile defender Nathan Thompson, who picked up his fifth booking of the season against the Terriers. This will be a huge blow for the home side, who are set to come up against one of the strongest attacks in the league.

The formation is expected to remain the same for Posh (predominantly down to Thompson's absence), with defender Frankie Kent returning to the starting XI after a period on the bench. Fans should anticipate Jonson Clarke-Harris to start up-front, following his 84th minute equaliser on Tuesday night.

Ex-Colchester attacker Kwame Poku may also be in contention, as a reward for a strong display off the bench against Huddersfield, but his selection will undoubtedly be unlikely.

Predicted Posh XI: Cornell; Kent, Edwards, Beevers; Ward, Taylor, Norburn, Burrows; Szmodics, Dembélé; Clarke-Harris



https://the72.co.uk/254763/peterborough-united-team-news-and-predicted-xi-to-face-fulham/

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Let's Talk About...AFC Bournemouth

Following Swansea's 2-1 win at Coventry, they face another away game this weekend. This time, a trip to league leaders Bournemouth is on the horizon. The Cherries have won 11 and drew 4 of their first 16 games, although they suffered their first defeat on Wednesday.

They opened their season with a 2-2 draw with West Brom. This was followed by back-to-back wins over Nottingham Forest and Birmingham, before draws with Blackpool and Hull City. Bournemouth enjoyed a run of four successive wins over Barnsley, QPR, Cardiff City and Luton Town. They suffered a disappointing draw at Peterborough but bounced back with a run of five wins on the bounce, beating Sheffield United, Bristol City, Stoke City, Huddersfield and Reading. However, they suffered a shock home defeat to Preston on Wednesday.

After failing to achieve promotion last season, Bournemouth had a sensible transfer window, relying mostly on free transfers.

The first incoming saw Emiliano Marcondes arrive from Brentford. The 26-year-old Danish midfielder scored the second goal against Swansea in last season's play-off final. He has scored one in six games for Bournemouth, although he has spent much of the season on the bench.

Keen to sign a backup keeper, Orjan Nyland made the switch from Norwich City. The Norwegian has made one league appearance, with Mark Travers the first-choice between the sticks.

They added experience to their back four, bringing in former Chelsea and Crystal Palace defender Gary Cahill. The 35-year-old was part of a Chelsea side that won two Premier League titles, one Champions League, two Europa Leagues, two FA Cups and one League Cup. He also picked up 61 England caps. He missed the first two games following his arrival in August but has not missed a single minute since.

Their first of two signings requiring a transfer fee saw Ryan Christie complete a £2.5 million move from Celtic. He has been a regular since his arrival, starting 10 out of 11 games. He provided assists for both goals in a 2-1 win over Luton.

Later that day, they announced the signing of Jamal Lowe from Swansea. The Jamaican international only joined the Swans last season, scoring 14 Championship goals after arriving from Wigan for a cut-price £800,000. However, he left Swansea after a year, with Bournemouth paying a reported £1.5 million to secure his signature. So far, Lowe has scored two goals in 10 appearances for his new club.

Midway through October, Bournemouth completed their sixth and final permanent signing, with Robbie Brady joining on a free transfer. The experienced Irishman spent four years at Burnley. He is yet to make his debut for The Cherries but could feature this weekend.

On top of their six permanent acquisitions, Bournemouth also brought in two players on loan. Firstly, they welcomed left-back Leif Davis from Leeds United. The 21-year-old has struggled for playing time, making just one start and a further three substitute appearances. He has not featured in the league since August.

They also brought in Morgan Rogers from Manchester City. Much like Davis, the young winger has also struggled for game-time. He has made nine appearances, but all-but-one have been from the bench.

Notable First-team departures
Had his career not been blighted by injury, Jack Wilshere might still be a regular for Arsenal. He joined Bournemouth in 2020 after failing to re-ignite his career at West Ham in a three-year spell. This was his second spell at Bournemouth, after he spent a season on loan at the club in 2016-17. He made 14 Championship appearances for the club in 2020-21 but was released in the summer.

Experienced goalkeeper Asmir Begovic also departed following the expiration of his contract, joining Everton as their backup keeper. The Bosnian international joined Bournemouth from Chelsea in 2017, starting all 38 games in his debut season. He went on to make 107 league appearances for the club before departing in June.

In late July, Diego Rico returned to his native Spain, joining Real Sociedad for £1 million. The 28-year-old left-back made 71 appearances for Bournemouth between 2018 and 2021.

Also leaving the club was Sam Surridge, a player familiar to Swansea fans following his loan spell in 2019-20. The striker scored four goals in 20 under Steve Cooper, before Bournemouth recalled him in January 2020. He joined Stoke in August for £5.5 million.

Midway through August, highly-rated Dutch winger Arnaut Danjuma joined Villarreal for an estimated £21.15 million. He has scored five in 10 La Liga games, as well as two in four Champions League games.

Their captain
While many have come and gone, Steve Cook has provided a decade of service to Bournemouth. He first arrived in 2011 on loan from Brighton, before completing a permanent move later that season.

Then in League One, Cook made 26 appearances for the club in his debut season, before playing 33 games as they achieved promotion to the Championship. Two years later, he played in all 46 games as Bournemouth won the Championship title, winning promotion to the top flight for the first time in their history.

He remained a regular throughout their four seasons in the Premier League and played in 42 of the 46 Championship games last season.

Their manager
With 18 England caps and nearly 500 league appearances, Scott Parker enjoyed an impressive playing career.

He started at Charlton Athletic, where he played 128 league games in a seven-year spell in the first team. His impressive performances in midfield earnt him not only his first England cap, but a move to title-chasing Chelsea.

He joined The Blues for £10 million in January 2004. However, he struggled for game-time with the likes of Claude Makelele and Frank Lampard occupying the starting roles. His chances of featuring were reduced even greater following the arrival of Arjen Robben and Tiago Mendes in the summer of 2004.

He departed Chelsea in July 2005, joining fellow Premier League side Newcastle for £6.5 million. He spent two seasons with the club, scoring his first goal against his former side, Charlton. He missed the end of the season with illness, ruling him out of the 2006 World Cup.

He was named club captain in 2006 following Alan Shearer's retirement. They won the UEFA Intertoto Cup that season, in what proved to be his final for the club. He departed in the summer of 2007, joining West Ham United for £7 million.

Following West Ham's relegation in 2011, Parker was understandably sought after. He made four Championship appearances for the club in 2011-12, before completing a permanent move to Tottenham.

Parker was named Tottenham's Player of the Year in his debut campaign, but an injury saw him miss the first half of the 2012-13 season. He struggled to re-capture his place in the side, returning to West London the following summer.

He joined Fulham for an undisclosed fee, where he spent the remainder of his playing career. The Cottagers were relegated during his first season, but Parker stayed at the club for three seasons in the Championship.

Following his retirement, Parker returned to Tottenham as the Under-18s coach and Club Ambassador. However, he returned to newly-promoted Fulham in July 2018 to become a first-team coach. This saw him reunite with former manager Slavisa Jokanovic. He remained in his role despite Jokanovic's sacking in November 2018, with Claudio Ranieri taking over.

Three months later, Ranieri was sacked, with Fulham heavily embroiled in a relegation battle. Parker was appointed as caretaker manager but was unable to steer them to safety. They finished 19th, joining Cardiff City and Huddersfield Town in the bottom three.

Despite suffering relegation, Parker was given the job on a permanent basis. They bounced back to the top flight at the first time of asking, beating Brentford in the play-off final in 2020. However, their return to the Premier League was short-lived. Following a disappointing season, Fulham were relegated. Parker departed the club by mutual consent.

Later that day, Parker was appointed as Bournemouth manager, leaving one Championship club for another. Under Parker, Bournemouth have had an excellent start to the season, while his former club Fulham also find themselves in the automatic promotion places.

Previous meetings with Bournemouth

Tuesday 8th December 2020 (H)

After 16 games, Bournemouth and Swansea both found themselves in the top six. Swansea were sat in fourth while Bournemouth were just a point off the top of the table in second.

The Swans were the hosts but spent most of the game on the back foot. Bournemouth dominated possession and had the best of the chances, but Freddie Woodman made a string of saves to give Swansea a valuable point.

Final score – Swansea City 0-0 AFC Bournemouth

Tuesday 16th March 2021

Three months on, third place Swansea travelled to The Vitality Stadium to take on Bournemouth, who found themselves in seventh. Unlike the reverse fixture, Bournemouth had no trouble in front of goal in the second meeting between the two sides.

The hosts took the lead in the ninth minute through Phillip Billing. The midfielder scored an excellent volley to give the visitors a lead.

An unfortunate own-goal from Joel Latibeaudiere gave the visitors a 2-0 lead shortly before half time.

Morgan Whittaker had a few opportunities to halve the deficit for the Swans but was denied by Asmir Begovic. Then with three minutes to go, Arnaut Danjuma heaped further punishment on Swansea, giving Bournemouth a 3-0 lead.

This result saw Swansea miss out on the chance to move level on points with second-place Watford, while Bournemouth closed the gap on the play-offs to two points.

Final score – AFC Bournemouth 3-0 Swansea City

Match Preview

Swansea's midweek win at Coventry will give them confidence ahead of one of the toughest games of the season. The hosts have lost just one game this season, suffering a surprise 2-1 home defeat to Preston on Wednesday. This ended an incredible run of 10 games unbeaten, with nine wins and a draw in that span.

Russell Martin once again has a fully fit squad to choose from. However, he suggested that rotation may be necessary this weekend, given the notoriously busy Championship schedule. Michael Obafemi could start, while Flynn Downes will likely return to the starting eleven following several substitute appearances.

Wales international David Brooks remains unavailable as he battles Hodgkin Lymphoma. I wish him the best of luck with his treatment and hope for a swift and full recovery.

Elsewhere, Lewis Cook will not feature as he continues his recovery following a ruptured cruciate ligament.

Only Aleksandar Mitrovic and Ben Brereton-Diaz have scored more goals than Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke. The English forward has scored 11 goals this season. Swansea striker Joel Piroe is fourth on the list with nine goals, after scoring the winner on Wednesday.

Expect a tough game, with both sides playing a possession-based style. Swansea will need to be wary of Jamal Lowe, given their track record of conceding to former players. A draw would be seen as an excellent result.

After next weekend's international break, Swansea return to Championship action on Saturday 20th November, with a home clash with Blackpool.



https://planetswans.co.uk/2021/11/06/lets-talk-about-afc-bournemouth/