Monday Fulham Stuff - 06/12/21...

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Results

Sunday
QPR	0-2	Stoke

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Marco Silva adamant Fulham should have had a penalty against Cherries

FULHAM boss Marco Silva was adamant his side should have had a penalty in the first half against Cherries on Friday.

With the scores level at Craven Cottage, former Cherries loanee Harry Wilson went to ground after seemingly being caught by striker Dominic Solanke inside the box.

Referee Tim Robinson waved play-on with the sides going in at the break goalless.

Solanke struck a rapid-opener moments after the restart in the second half, with Tosin Adarabioyo heading home the equaliser to force a 1-1 draw.

Speaking post-match, Silva said: "Unfortunately, again we (should have) had a penalty.

"I really respect the referees, but it is tough for us because a key decision has gone against us again.

"I think what I saw all of you saw as well. You saw it on the broadcast for sure.

"I prefer to talk about the game and the way my players dealt with the situation. That's football and at the end of the season, hopefully it will balance out. It is tough for us as a club."

The draw kept Fulham a point ahead of Cherries in the Championship title race.

Assessing the game as a whole, former Watford boss Silva said: "It was a very good game. Two strong sides on the pitch.

"We didn't change anything than we've done so far. They came here with a different strategy, they tried to change their formation a little bit to be a bit more compact in the midfield zone, building up with four midfielders instead of three.

"For the first five minutes we took some time to adapt and after that we adapt well and we started to control the game.

"I think we deserved to lead by two goals at half-time. We created a chance with Mitro (Aleksandar Mitrovic) and after when (Steve) Cook twice played like a goalkeeper. He did well in that moment and unfortunately we didn't score.

"The only thing that I didn't like, we lost two seconds of focus and our discipline in our organisation and they punished us. We cannot concede a goal like we conceded, after a kick-off. We slept completely in that moment. We cannot concede at the level we are.

"In the end we scored, but it is clear we deserved more from this game because we were the best team on the pitch and we deserved more. But I am proud of my players."



https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/sport/19763211.marco-silva-adamant-fulham-penalty-cherries/

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Neeskens Kebano back where he belongs and standing out in Fulham's star-studded attack

While Aleksandar Mitrovic has rightly claimed the majority of the plaudits so far this season, Neeskens Kebano has quietly become one of the first names on Fulham's team sheet.

Although neither were able to find the net in Friday night's 1-1 draw against AFC Bournemouth, Kebano once again put in an impressive display down the left-hand side to further enhance his credentials.

Overall, the former PSG attacker has scored four and assisted five so far this term and with 31 successful dribbles made, more than anyone else in the side, has made the left wing position his own.

Indeed, Kebano has a way of bamboozling defenders with his lightning-quick feet and peculiar style, running with ball so fast it looks like he's going to fall over – although of course he never does. 

The 29-year-old's positive build-up play has been the catalyst for a large part of Fulham's attacking impetus this campaign, linking-up excellently with the full-back behind him – whether it is Antonee Robinson or Joe Bryan.

His performances, as well as crucial goals, suggests the player has finally found his feet following an inauspicious start to his Cottagers career after joining from Belgian side Genk in August 2016

Although winning promotion with Slavisa Jokanovic's 2017/18 squad, Kebano struggled to lock down a starting position despite some promising cameos, with Ivan Cavaleiro usually getting the nod over him.

However, Kebano's true value became clearer at the tail-end of Scott Parker's 2019/20 promotion season when he scored three sumptuous free-kicks in three games, one of which came against Cardiff in the first-leg of the Play-Off Semi-Final.

He became the first player in all four top divisions to do this since Wayne Rooney in 2013, proving his dead-ball expertise was as good as anyone else's in the Fulham side.

Without Kebano hitting that rich vein of form when he did, Premier League promotion would have been far from guaranteed but once top-flight football did eventually arrive he struggled to prove himself once again.

Kebano featured at the beginning of Fulham's slow start where they lost their opening four games and conceded 11 before a muscle injury subsequently kept him out until January.

On his return, he duly went out on loan to Championship outfit Middlesbrough, scoring one and assisting four while Fulham unsuccessfully fought against Premier League relegation.

But under new manager Marco Silva, Neeskens is back where he belongs  – on Fulham's left wing playing an integral role in their promotion charge and standing out, which is no easy feat in this star-studded Fulham side.



https://londonfootballscene.co.uk/2021/12/05/neeskens-kebano-back-where-he-belongs-and-standing-out-in-fulhams-star-studded-attack/

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Fulham among EFL clubs keeping tabs on highly-rated Irish-Nigerian midfielder

Allnigeriasoccer.com understands that several Football League clubs are keeping tabs on Chippenham Town's Irish midfielder of Nigerian descent Rasaq Alamu ahead of the opening of the transfer window.

Alamu's excellent displays for the U23 team of the Bluebirds have not gone unnoticed by clubs higher up the football pyramid.

Regarded as one of the most exciting players in the Surburban League, the highly-rated Irish-Nigerian player has tallied an impressive ten goals in thirteen appearances so far this season.

Championship high-flyers Fulham sent one of their talent spotters to run the rule over Alamu in last month's fixture between Chippenham Town U23s and Corinthian, and he received a glowing report from the scout after scoring a hat-trick.

Forest Green Rovers, Bristol Rovers, Swindon Town and Cheltenham Town scouts are also aware of Alamu and the aforementioned clubs could firm up their interest in the midfielder in the coming months.

Blessed with physical presence and aerial ability, Alamu is close to making his first team debut for Chippenham Town.

He is eager to represent Nigeria youth teams if handed a call-up by the Nigeria Football Federation.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel



https://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=41869

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Fulham, Bristol Rovers and Swindon Town eyeing transfer move for non-league ace

The likes of Fulham, Bristol Rovers and Swindon Town are said to be keeping tabs on Chippenham Town's Rasaq Alamu ahead of the January transfer window, as per a recent report by All Nigeria Soccer.

The midfielder has put in some fine displays for the Bluebirds' under-23s and could now be set to make a move to the Football League in the hear future.

Along with the aforementioned trio of clubs, the youngster is also a target for both Cheltenham Town and Forest Green Rovers after scoring 10 goals in 13 appearances so far this season.

Fulham recently sent one of their top scouts to watch the youngster in action, with the player notching up a hattrick in said game.

Alamu is close to breaking into the first team for Chippenham and is a player who possesses both good physical strength and aerial ability in addition to having a good tactical understanding of the game despite his young age.

The Verdict

It is always important to scour the non league s=circuit in search of hidden gems and in the case of Alamu, Fulham may well have just unearthed one.

Even at such a young age he is showing that he could make a real impact at a good level if given the platform to thrive.

It appears likely that he would be integrated straight into the Sky Bet Championship club's academy system before becoming part of their development programme or getting loaned out to a lower league side.

It is still early days in his career but the Whites will have done their research into how the midfielder is expected to develop over the coming years as they look to put plans into place to lure him to Craven Cottage.

This could be a very clever addition for the West London side at youth level.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/fulham-bristol-rovers-and-swindon-town-eyeing-transfer-move-for-non-league-ace/

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Fulham, Cheltenham Town and Forest Green linked with non-league youngster Rasaq Alamu

Fulham are among a host of Football League clubs keeping tabs on Chippenham Town youngster Rasaq Alamu.

The midfielder is attracting plenty of interest ahead of the upcoming January transfer window, as reported by AllNigerianSoccer.com.

Alamu has also been watched by Cheltenham Town, Forest Green Rovers, Swindon Town and Bristol Rovers.

He has caught the eye playing for Chippenham's Under-23s and has scored 10 goals in 13 games so far this season.

Battling it out

Fulham sent scouts to watch him in action against Corinthian last month and he scored a hat-trick in that one.

The Cottagers could see him as an ideal addition to their development squad but may have to see off competition from elsewhere if they were to lure him to Craven Cottage.

Robins interest

League One side Cheltenham have been credited with an interest by AllNigerianSoccer's report.

Michael Duff's side have made a solid start to life in League One this term following their promotion from League Two and are currently 12th in the table.

League Two move?

Forest Green and Swindon are battling it out at the top end of the fourth tier as they look to go up this season.

Rob Edwards' side are currently six points clear at the top after an impressive run of form.

Bristol Rovers have also been mentioned as potential suitors for Alamu but they sit 16th in the league under Joey Barton.



https://the72.co.uk/257093/fulham-cheltenham-town-and-forest-green-linked-with-non-league-youngster-rasaq-alamu/