Monday Fulham Stuff - 27/12/21...

[WhiteJC]

Results

Sunday
Barnsley	P-P	Stoke
Cardiff	P-P	Coventry
Fulham	P-P	Birmingham
Hudersfield	3-2	Blackpool
Hull	P-P	Blackburn
Luton	P-P	Bristol City
M'borough	2-0	Forest
Millwall	P-P	Swansea
P'borought	P-P	Reading
Preston NE	P-P	Sheff Utd

[WhiteJC]

Full back crisis and Liam Moore decision - Reading FC's strongest team if they return vs Fulham

Reading FC have had their Boxing Day clash at Peterborough United postponed due to Covid but they could return to action just before the New Year when they are set to host Fulham

Reading FC will be hoping to return to action next week when they are due to host Fulham at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.

Royals' game on Boxing Day this Sunday at Peterborough United has been postponed due to Covid - the second game in succession which has had to be called off.

Veljko Paunovic's squad has been affected with a 'significant' number of positive cases with those players testing positive spending time in isolation before they can make a return.

All being well, the game with Fulham is hopefully going ahead on Wednesday, December 29 at 8pm.

As well as Covid, Reading do have plenty of players out injured, although some are nearing their returns and could even be back for this game.

Here is an early look at Royals' strongest 11 for the clash with the high-flying Whites.

Goalkeeper
Luke Southwood is now the undisputed no.1 at the club after a string of superb performances.

Coupled with reports Rafael could leave Royals in the coming weeks, the position is very much Southwood's.

Defence
The full-back areas are set to be a big issue for Reading in the coming weeks with Andy Yiadom and Baba Rahman set to represent Ghana at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Although the tournament doesn't start until Sunday, January 9, it is expected both will head out at the end of the year to begin their preparations.

It means Paunovic is likely to have some big decisions to make in the coming weeks to patch up the defence, with few back-ups in those positions.

The most likely option is playing four at the back, with centre-back Tom Holmes potentially slotting in on the right, as he did superbly on numerous occasions last season.

However, should Paunovic wish to start Holmes at centre-back, young midfielder Dejan Tetek is a potential alternative at right-back given he has played a couple of games there already this season, while 17-year-old Tyrell Ashcroft is an option having played right wing-back at West Brom and Millwall.

Reading are still likely to be without Michael Morrison and Tom McIntyre for another couple of weeks.

Another alternative is playing Holmes alongside Dann, and utility man Felipe Araruna slotting in at right-back, although the Brazilian's lack of match sharpness is likely to see him start on the bench.

In the middle, the centre-back pairing will be Scott Dann and one other, with Holmes the preference but should he be used at right-back, then Liam Moore could start, despite the club captain lacking form this season.

Rahman's absence leaves a huge hole at left-back with no obvious replacement to come in, aside from academy player Ethan Bristow.

The defender is now back fit having recovered from an injury and he could well be thrown into the mix for this game.

The 20-year-old played the first four games of the season but hasn't featured since.

Midfield
With Andy Rinomhota not expected back just yet because of an ankle injury, the holding midfield pair are set to be Josh Laurent and Danny Drinkwater.

Although both players have had rather up and down seasons so far, the pair do give Reading some presence and energy in the middle of the pitch, as well as cover for the defence.

Ahead of them, John Swift is a nailed-on starter having been in outstanding form this year. The playmaker has eight goals and nine assists to his name, and has created a whopping 53 chances overall.

With Swift in the middle of an attacking trio, alongside him on the right should be Alen Halilovic.

The Croatian midfielder has played only ten games since his summer move to Reading because of injury but he has shown he is, behind Swift, the most creative outlet in the side.

The former Birmingham City player's ability to pick a pass and waltz past players make him a valuable member of the side.

On the left side, Paunovic must weigh up whether to pick Tom Dele-Bashiru or Ovie Ejaria - providing the latter has recovered from a soft tissue injury.

Despite getting into some good positions last time out at West Brom, Dele-Bashiru's finishing was very poor although his form generally this season has been solid.

Ejaria has only had a few games where he has stood out this season and is yet to reach the standards he has set over the past couple of years.

Dele-Bashiru's goal threat may sway Paunovic to pick him, although it is a close call given Ejaria will want to win his place back in the side.

Junior Hoilett and Femi Azeez are also options this area, so long as they are fit. Both will have benefited from the break to boost their fitness.

Attack
Andy Carroll is the obvious option to spearhead the attack.

With George Puscas still without a goal this season, the Romanian will once again have to start the game watching on from the subs' bench.

Carroll is in the final month of his two-month contract with the club and Reading will be hoping to get the best out of him while he is still in Berkshire.

His long-term future remains uncertain but he is the most likely source of goals.

Lucas Joao's return next month should help ease the burden on those in the final third but for the short term, Carroll remains, arguably, the most important player to Reading and their chances of rising up the league table.

Possible Reading team vs Fulham (4-2-3-1): Rafael, Holmes, Dann, Moore, Bristow, Laurent, Drinkwater, Halilovic, Swift, Dele-Bashiru, Carroll.



https://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/full-back-crisis-liam-moore-22541147

[WhiteJC]

Winter Sale is here!

Enjoy savings across a range of Fulham merchandise, with the Fulham FC Winter Sale now live!

Fans can enjoy up to 50% off, with savings to be made on selected lines including replica kits, COPA retro, training and fashion.

Take advantage online or instore now.



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2021/december/24/winter-sale-is-here-/

[WhiteJC]

Introducing 'One Fulham'

We are all teammates

Life, like football, has its highs and lows. The last couple of years have been tough for all of us, and despite the festivities there is not much good news around at the minute.

At the Fulham Supporters' Trust we know that these things have an impact on Fulham fans. Our last fan survey showed that many of you experienced lows in recent times and those were exacerbated by not being able to attend games and watch the club we all love.

The Fulham fanbase has always been special. And given the latest headline we thought it was a good time for us to come together and remind one another that we are all on the same team, that we are all One Fulham.

The Club has backed us, and Tom Cairney, Tim Ream, Joe Bryan and Dennis Odoi have all provided content that will play a role in the campaign. EFL partners MIND have also stepped up.

So, if you need someone to talk to, whether that's about Fulham or anything else, we want you to know that the Fulham family is here to help.

You can support us by publicising the campaign on your social media feeds along with #OneFulhamTeammate. By doing so, you will be signalling to fellow fans you are there to support them if they need someone to talk to.

Any Fulham fan needing expert support can reach out to our friends at MIND via 0300 123 3393 or [email protected]. Alternatively, members of the Fulham Supporters' Trust Board are available via [email protected] or on Twitter @FulhamSuppTrust.

So, if you are feeling down, do not keep it to yourself.
Share it with your teammates who want to help.
We are your team.

We are One Fulham.

https://www.fulhamsupporterstrust.com/news/2021/12/introducing-one-fulham/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham, West Brom, Stoke City and Bournemouth all chasing transfer move for Premier League player

Aston Villa player Keinan Davis looks like he could be on the move in the winter window, with several sides all asking about the striker's availability, as reported by Football Insider.

He has played only once in the Premier League so far this season and he has found gametime hard to come by at his current club. With the player desperate for more action, he could soon swap the Premier League for the second tier in search of some games.

There isn't a shortage of interest in his services either, with a number of teams in the Championship eager to try and secure a deal for him. The list includes the likes of West Brom, Fulham, Bournemouth and Stoke – so he can have his pick of where he would like to play his football in the second half of the campaign.

The 23-year-old player has yet to feature for any side that isn't Aston Villa, making 86 appearances and bagging six goals. The opportunity to play in a different setup on a regular basis though could certainly get him firing in the goals and may even help him to nail a starting spot down at Villa Park when he returns to the club.

However, if a short-term deal can't be reached, there is also the opportunity to secure a permanent switch for Davis – although that could also mean some teams drop out of the running, as a fee would likely have to be seven-figures to tempt Villa into a sale.

If there's a suitable bid lodged though, then someone could bag themselves a promising young striker in the winter window.

The Verdict

As a player, Keinan Davis looks a talent and could certainly do a job in the second tier but there are question marks about his goalscoring.

For a team like West Brom for example, they are desperate to sign a forward who can bag them the goals instead of Jordan Hugill. However, with the 23-year-old Villa man, there is no guarantee that he could score on a regular basis either.

Davis has the ability to be a shrewd signing if he can realise his potential at a new team but without having a regular stint in the side at Villa, you cannot see how capable he is at scoring goals. His record at first glance looks, based on the amount of appearances, looks a little low for a forward.

However, if the right team can sign him and give him that gametime, then it could be an astute signing for whoever lands him in the winter transfer window.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/fulham-west-brom-stoke-city-and-bournemouth-all-chasing-transfer-move-for-premier-league-player/

[WhiteJC]

One winner and one loser at Fulham if Aleksandar Mitrovic does leave in January

We brought you the exclusive on Thursday that Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic could be tempted to leave Craven Cottage with some big clubs in for him in January.

The Serbian has scored a quite remarkable 22 league goals already and looks destined to smash Ivan Toney's record of 31 goals in the division.

The Cottagers appeared to be home and hosed at the summit of the Championship a month or so ago but a run of four draws and one defeat has seen the gap between themselves and third place cut to just three points.

The recent poor run poses the question of just how much Mitrovic's goals have carried them this season and whether or not they would be as convincing automatic promotion contenders without him in the side.

Here, we have taken a look at one winner and one loser from Mitrovic's potential Fulham exit...

Winner: Rodrigo Muniz
The Summer signing from Flamengo, Rodrigo Muniz has looked good in flashes in his limited opportunities for the Cottagers this season.

It would have been difficult for Robert Lewandowski to break into the Fulham side at the top of the pitch, such has been the breath-taking form of Mitrovic, but Muniz will be ready in waiting to take his place and lead the promotion push.

The Brazilian has scored three league goals despite starting only once and could have a more significant part to play in the second half of the season, irrespective of whether Mitrovic stays put or not.

Loser: Marco Silva
Marco Silva's reputation will take a serious dent if he is not able to achieve automatic promotion with the embarrassment of riches at his disposal that is this Fulham squad.

The five game winless run will have triggered a lot of concern over the Cottagers' place at the top of the division and led to questions about Silva's methods.

Pulling away from the chasing pack will be much more difficult without Mitrovic and could force the Portuguese manager to completely alter the way Fulham attack teams.

Muniz provides excellent cover but losing Mitrovic would make Fulham a lot less intimidating to come up against.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/one-winner-and-one-loser-at-fulham-if-aleksandar-mitrovic-does-leave-in-january/

[WhiteJC]

Swansea City v Luton Town postponed – Fulham game becomes a big doubt

The Swans have seen their third successive fixture fall victim to the escalation of Covid cases, this time within our own squad meaning that we were unable to fulfil the fixture.

A statement on the club's official website read "This is due to an additional number of positive COVID-19 cases within the playing squad.

"The club has worked hard to try and ensure it would be able to fulfil the fixture, however, taking into account injuries and positive Covid-19 cases, the club does not have a sufficient number of players available."

The outbreak of cases within the squad places a serious doubt over the Fulham game which is scheduled to take place just 5 days later on January 3rd.

A date for the rearranged game will be announced in due course and the postponement just adds to our belief that the only way forward now is for clubs to agree to a circuit break.



https://planetswans.co.uk/2021/12/24/swansea-city-v-luton-town-postponed-fulham-game-becomes-a-big-doubt/

[WhiteJC]

AEW: Tony Khan reveals if he has been talking to Bray Wyatt

AEW President Tony Khan recently revealed if he has been speaking to former WWE Superstar Bray Wyatt. The owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Fulham Football Club admitted that he hadn't yet actually spoken to Rotunda about potentially joining All Elite.

Speaking on WFAN's Moose & Maggie Show in New York City, Khan said that "he's a great wrestler, and I have to be honest, we haven't talked at all. I've known him in my personal life, but in reality, we haven't talked. But you never know."

This comes amid news that Bray Wyatt is reportedly in talks with IMPACT Wrestling to sign a deal and become a member of their roster.

It seems unlikely that Tony Khan wouldn't have spoken to Wyatt yet, with the former WWE Superstar being one of the biggest names released from the company this year, but we'll have to take his word on it for now.

Tony Khan on Bray Wyatt
AEW Dynamite is on every Wednesday night on TNT and FITE; fans in the UK can sign up to watch the show via AEW+ on FITE.

AEW Rampage is on every Friday night on TNT and FITE, fans in the UK can sign up to watch the show via AEW+ on FITE.

All Elite Wrestling also hosts four PPV events per year, available via traditional PPV routes in the United States and again on FITE TV elsewhere. The PPVs are named Double or Nothing, Full Gear, All Out and Revolution.

AEW Dark and AEW Dark: Elevation are available to watch every Monday and Tuesday night on AEW's official YouTube channel.



https://fightfans.co.uk/aew/aew-news/aew-tony-khan-reveals-if-he-has-been-talking-to-bray-wyatt/

[WhiteJC]

Terry Bullivant receives Forever Fulham award

Our Director of Football Terry Bullivant was a guest of Fulham FC at last week's game against Sheffield United to receive the 'Forever Fulham' award, which is given to players who have made over 100 appearances for the club, a figure Terry achieved between 1975 and 1979.

Terry is shown above receiving his award from Fulham Director David Daly, and he was interviewed during the half time interval about his time at Fulham playing alongside the likes of Bobby Moore, Rodney Marsh and George Best. You can watch the interview below - our thanks to Fulham FC and FFC tv for providing the footage.

https://www.suttonunited.net/news/2021/december/terry-bullivant-receives-forever-fulham-award/

[AJW48361]

TB had a stormer against C***s*a at SB. I remember well within a fortnight £250.000 move to Villa I think we had the better of that deal.

[Woolly Mammoth]

Fulham, West Brom, Stoke City and Bournemouth all chasing transfer move for Premier League player

Aston Villa player Keinan Davis looks like he could be on the move in the winter window, with several sides all asking about the striker's availability, as reported by Football Insider.

He has played only once in the Premier League so far this season and he has found gametime hard to come by at his current club. With the player desperate for more action, he could soon swap the Premier League for the second tier in search of some games.

There isn't a shortage of interest in his services either, with a number of teams in the Championship eager to try and secure a deal for him. The list includes the likes of West Brom, Fulham, Bournemouth and Stoke – so he can have his pick of where he would like to play his football in the second half of the campaign.

The 23-year-old player has yet to feature for any side that isn't Aston Villa, making 86 appearances and bagging six goals. The opportunity to play in a different setup on a regular basis though could certainly get him firing in the goals and may even help him to nail a starting spot down at Villa Park when he returns to the club.

However, if a short-term deal can't be reached, there is also the opportunity to secure a permanent switch for Davis – although that could also mean some teams drop out of the running, as a fee would likely have to be seven-figures to tempt Villa into a sale.

If there's a suitable bid lodged though, then someone could bag themselves a promising young striker in the winter window.

The Verdict

As a player, Keinan Davis looks a talent and could certainly do a job in the second tier but there are question marks about his goalscoring.

For a team like West Brom for example, they are desperate to sign a forward who can bag them the goals instead of Jordan Hugill. However, with the 23-year-old Villa man, there is no guarantee that he could score on a regular basis either.

Davis has the ability to be a shrewd signing if he can realise his potential at a new team but without having a regular stint in the side at Villa, you cannot see how capable he is at scoring goals. His record at first glance looks, based on the amount of appearances, looks a little low for a forward.

However, if the right team can sign him and give him that gametime, then it could be an astute signing for whoever lands him in the winter transfer window.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/fulham-west-brom-stoke-city-and-bournemouth-all-chasing-transfer-move-for-premier-league-player/

Davis is big and strong and we do not have enough physical players, we can be a soft touch. We could also do with a physically big strong CM player which is what we currently lack, as well as a playmaker who has vision and can stay fit. Not forgetting centre of defence which is needs surgery as i do not think we are the finished article although compared to all the other teams we seem to have quality.
Despite my personal observations Silva still has an embarrassment of riches to enable Fulham to stay top, and he needs to wrestle away this current mini slump by increasing the tempo of Fulhams system of play and move forward faster rather that allow opponents to get back behind the ball whilst Ream and Tosin fanny around at the back passing across the pitch in our our third of the pitch which is never a wise thing to do.
Silva has to have a new years resolution of speeding up Fulhams tempo rapidly and introduce more ruthlessness, some players look too comfortable at times and Silva has to crack the whip pronto otherwise when you consider the abundance of talent and depth on strength he has compared to all the other teams, he could risk failing to reach his target of promotion, he has to do better to maintain our position.
If we stand still we will get overtaken.

[Whitesideup]

"Davis is big and strong"  ... more relevant is perhaps 6 goals in 86 appearances. One huge risk I think, as clearly we need a goalscoring striker, not just someone strong.

And as for midfield, Chalobah certainly has the physique you are looking for Woolly. Maybe we'll find out how good he is when Seri is away.

[love4ffc]

Some encouraging #readingfc news regarding Wednesday night's match vs Fulham at the SCL Stadium. Covid situation at the club has eased and am told it's unlikely Royals will be calling the game off, so it'll probably be down to the Whites if the game gets the go-ahead pic.twitter.com/gtWpN5dbTh

— Jonathan Low (@jonathanl50) December 27, 2021

?t=iYe02eoHylchTkkb7Kq3KA&s=19

[filham]

Unless Davis can prove to be an improvement on either Kebano or Wilson then he would simply sit on the bench and possibly be behind Muniz as a substitute for Mitro.