Saturday Fulham Stuff - 08/01/22...

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Rumor Mongering: Super Agent Pushing for Liverpool to Sign Fulham Wunderkind

Fulham's manager has admitted that we should "expect something" around the youngster's transfer situation

The Liverpudlian corner of the winter 2022 transfer rumor mill has been fairly muted so far, at least compared to the some of the frenzies of transfer windows past (January 2021: moar centerbacks!, January 2020: must save the title defense!).

This time, midfield has become one of major areas in the Liverpool squad in need of overhaul as average age and injury counts grow weightier in the Reds engine room as the years go on. Consequently, linkages to exciting young midfield talents like Fulham's Fabio Carvalho have begun to crop up with regularity

The Portuguese-born youngster, has scored four goals in 12 games so far this season in the Championship, as tenuous links with the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona have emerged. This has predictably led to super agent Jorge Mendes—who can usually be found in the vicinity of any Portuguese talent worth taking seriously—reportedly taking a keen interest in the player, per the Daily Mail.

The 19-year-old, who has represented England at the U-18 level, is in the final year of his contract at Craven Cottage, and the London club have grown increasingly resigned to losing their academy product.

"I know his agent will have been talking to some other big clubs," Fulham manager Marco Silva admitted recently on Carvalho's contract situation. "But we are expecting something from Fabio and his agent —they know what they said to us."

The Mail seems to believe that one of those "somethings" is that Mendes prefers Anfield as the final destination, a club the agent was said to have enjoyed working with on the efficiently-executed Diogo Jota transfer from Wolves in the summer 2020 window. This positive working relationship could help the incoming Julian Ward and his transfer team steal a march on Tottenham, a rumored suitor for the player.

With covid having thrown a wrench in the plans of clubs hoping to challenge for the league, the urgency to address some of the deficiencies in Liverpool's squad have not been nearly as urgent. Therefore this might be a rumor we should be keeping an eye on for the summer, if anything.



https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2022/1/7/22871376/super-agent-pushing-for-liverpool-to-sign-fulham-wunderkind-jorge-mendes-tottenham-real-madrid

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🚌 Getting to the Gate: Fulham

City are back in BS3 on Saturday afternoon (January 8th) to take on Fulham and here's some important travel information for the day.

Covid Certification checks are in place at Ashton Gate, which mean it's essential that all fans arrive at the stadium in plenty of time ahead of kick-off so please allow extra time for your journey. Find out more information here.

Matchday bus services will operate two and a half hours earlier than the standard timetable for a 3pm kick-off - Travel | Bristol City. This means pre-match departures as follows:

    AG1: every 15 mins from Portway Park & Ride between 10:15 and 12:15
    AG2: every 20 mins from Brislington Park & Ride between 10:15 and 11:55
    AG3: every 15 mins from Bristol Temple Meads (via Broadmead and the Centre) between 10:15 and 12:15

Fans travelling from within Bristol are advised to use the new AG3 service from Temple Meads, Broadmead and The Centre. The AG3 connects with bus routes from across the city and is also suitable for those arriving in Bristol by train or bus.

For those driving from outside Bristol, free parking is available at the Portway and Brislington Park & Ride sites with the AG1 and AG2 matchday bus services.

These subsidised services offer return travel from just £1.80 per person. Tickets are valid across the First Bus Bristol Zone so you can connect to other services without paying extra.

More information including tickets, pricing and stop details are available here.



For supporters travelling to Ashton Gate via train the 08:48 from Plymouth to Cardiff Central (calling at Taunton, Bridgwater, Highbridge, Weston-super-Mare, Worle, Yatton, Nailsea & Backwell) will also call at Bristol Temple Meads at 11:32.



https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/getting-to-the-gate-fulham/

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A Catch-Up With Tyrese Francois

With the Whites preparing to make their long-awaited return to the pitch, we caught up with Tyrese Francois ahead of our FA Cup fixture with Bristol City on Saturday.

What have the last few weeks been like for the squad?

It's been tough with games getting cancelled last minute. We've had a good few sessions the last few days and spirits are high so I feel like we are just raring to get some games under our belts.

What sort of challenge is it having to prepare for games and then having them cancelled last minute?

It's difficult, especially when you're going into a week knowing you've got the game on the Saturday, and it gets to Thursday or Friday and then suddenly it gets cancelled so it's just about staying positive and staying ready. We've got a challenge on Saturday against Bristol [City] and then the fixtures come fast after that so we're all ready to go.

Has the forced break helped the squad in any way?

It's given us time to work on some things but the way we show that is by playing games, which we haven't been able to do over the last couple of weeks. It's given us a bit of a reset and now we're ready to go.

I don't know how many days or weeks it's been, but the FA Cup will be a good little warm up and then we can get going from there.

Was it nice to get to spend Christmas with the family this year?

Yeah, I think especially for a lot of the older boys who have never had Christmas off before. It was a strange Christmas for footballers, but we can't complain; we got to spend time with our family.

What do you expect from Bristol City this weekend?

They're a tough side. A lot of energy, fit team, strong side. It will be hard but it's a good challenge and we will be up for it.



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2022/january/07/A-Catch-Up-With-Tyrese-Francois/

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🔎 MansionBet Match Preview: Fulham (Emirates FA Cup - H)

Take an in-depth look at how City match up against Fulham as the West London outfit travel to Ashton Gate on Saturday in the Third Round of the Emirates FA Cup.

🔴 OURSELVES

City head into this game off the back of an emphatic 3-2 win at home to Millwall after Andreas Weimann clinched a late winner to secure a hat-trick on Sunday afternoon.

Nigel Pearson will want to see his side show the same levels of bravery and dominance that were on display against Millwall as they look to progress further into the FA Cup.

After netting a hat-trick on Sunday, City's number 14 will be keen to continue his goal scoring form as he looks to add to his goal tally which is currently at 12.
🧳 OUR OPPONENTS

Fulham travel to Ashton Gate after a 1-0 defeat at Craven Cottage to Sheffield United way back on the 20th December after the Cottagers had three games postponed due to Covid cases. 

Marco Silva will be keen to see his side progress into the Fourth Round of the Emirates FA Cup as they sit comfortably in 3rd in the Championship with games in hand.

With 13 goal involvements already this season, Harry Wilson will be confident he can continue his fine form and top his 19 goal involvements from last season as Fulham play their first game of the New Year.
📝 FULHAM PROFILE

Formed: 1879
Stadium: Craven Cottage
Nickname: The Cottagers, The Whites, The Lily Whites
Manager: Marco Silva
Finish last season: 18th, Premier League

Honours:

Second Tier winners (Championship equivalent)- 1948/49, 2000/01
Play-off winners- 2017/18, 2019/20
Third Tier winners (League One equivalent)- 1931/32, 1998/99
Southern League First Division winners- 1905/06, 1906/07
FA Cup runners-up- 1975
UEFA Europa League runners-up- 2009/10
📍 MATCH DETAILS

Where: Ashton Gate
When: Saturday, January 8th (12:30pm)
Competition: Emirates FA Cup

Referee: Jonathan Moss
Assistant Referee: Adam Crysell
Assistant Referee: Graham Kane
Fourth Official: Robert Lewis



HEAD TO HEAD
BRISTOL CITY

Match vs the opposition: 64
Won: 22
Drew: 17
Lost: 25

The 2021/22 season so far in all competitions...

Goals scored: 32
Goals conceded: 41

Championship position: 15th (30 points)
Carabao Cup: First Round
Emirates FA Cup: Round Three (January 8th, 2022 v Fulham at Ashton Gate)

Yellow cards: 45
Red cards: 1

Top goalscorer: Andi Weimann (12)
Top assists: Andi Weimann and Chris Martin (4)
FULHAM

Match vs the opposition: 64
Won: 25
Drew: 17
Lost: 22

The 2021/22 season so far in all competitions...

Goals scored: 53
Goals conceded: 19

Championship position: 3rd (45 points)
Carabao Cup: Third Round
Emirates FA Cup: Round Three (January 8th, 2022 v Bristol City at Ashton Gate)

Yellow cards: 38
Red cards: 2

Top goalscorer: Aleksandar Mitrovic (22)
Top assists: Harry Wilson (7)
⏮ MATCH REWIND

Result: Fulham 1-2 Bristol City
When: 21.09.16
Competition: EFL Cup

Lucas Piazon headed the hosts in front before Aaron Wilbraham's delicate finish levelled things up on the stroke of half-time.

Then debutant goalkeeper Ivan Lucic made a name for himself, saving Cauley Woodrow's 51st minute penalty to keep the scores level.

In the 90th minutes O'Dowda's low cross picked out the near post run of Tammy Abraham, who was inevitably in the right place to force the ball over the line and send City into the last 16.

ONE TO WATCH
Harry Wilson

The midfielder has registered 13 goal involvements as we head into the second half of the season. With six goals and seven assists, the 24-year-old has proved to be an influential figure for the Craven Cottage outfit.

Wilson has featured in 20 league games this season which shows how much Marco Silva values him since he joined permanently from Liverpool in July 2021.

Despite being at Liverpool for six years the Welsh winger failed to make an appearance for the Merseyside club after he had five loan spells during his time on Merseyside.

After successful loans at Hull City, Derby County, Bournemouth and Cardiff City it eventually earned Wilson the permanent move to Craven Cottage where he has also impressed.
🎟 TICKETS

Tickets remain on sale for this weekend's Emirates FA Cup Third Round fixture home with Fulham.



https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/mansionbet-match-preview-fulham-emirates-fa-cup-h/

[WhiteJC]

Chelsea, Fulham and QPR welcome Afghan refugees with free tickets

Fulham, QPR and Chelsea football clubs recently gave free match tickets, kits and training sessions to Afghan refugee families temporarily living in H&F.

Fulham, QPR and Chelsea all donated tickets for home games before Christmas which also included a Champions League game at Stamford Bridge.

At Fulham vs Cardiff City, the Afghan refugees were able to walk to the game, joining the local fans heading to Craven Cottage. They also mingled with Cardiff fans, and even tried to learn a couple of the Welsh team's songs.

At QPR vs Nottingham Forest, refugees travelled by coach to Loftus Road, supported by our LET Officers. They were personally greeted and accompanied into the stadium by H&F Mayor, Cllr PJ Murphy.

"H&F is a place for all, and it's been fantastic to introduce our Afghan guests to such an exciting part of borough life and to say 'Thank You' for all they did to support our armed forces in Afghanistan. We owe them a debt of gratitude," said Cllr Murphy.

"It was wonderful to walk to Loftus Road with them and see how they were welcomed by the fans. Thanks to Chelsea, Fulham and QPR for welcoming them into the heart of the borough and hopefully inspiring some new football fans along the way!"
Image 3
Image caption: Image 3: Yoann Barbet of Queens Park Rangers (right) playing against Nottingham Forest in October 2021. PICTURE: GETTY IMAGES

Champions League tickets
Chelsea's Champions League tickets for their match against Italian team Juventus, were allocated through a raffle, with Cllr Larry Culhane, H&F Cabinet Member for Children and Education, drawing the winning tickets. Chelsea won 4-0.

Looking the part
QPR's charitable arm - QPR in the Community Trust – has also organised for new training kit to be delivered, alongside donated sweatshirts, training bottoms, football boots and trainers from staff members. The Trust is also running a weekly football session for refugees from H&F and neighbouring boroughs to attend together.

Chelsea's clothing donations included hats, gloves, thermals, and tracksuit bottoms. The club has run a weekly football session at the Westway for younger refugees since October, and more recently started a weekly fitness session for adults at Eel Brook Common.

Fulham FC's players donated new boots and training kit, and the Fulham FC Foundation delivered a popular football programme which has developed into another weekly training session at Eel Brook Common.

Fulham FC's Foundation has worked closely with H&F's refugee community for years. In 2020, they hosted a celebration event at Craven Cottage to highlight the positive impacts of football. Unaccompanied refugee children from across the borough were invited to a special training session, attended by Gary Lineker, local refugee campaigner, Lord Alf Dubs, and H&F Leader Stephen Cowan.



https://www.lbhf.gov.uk/articles/news/2022/01/chelsea-fulham-and-qpr-welcome-afghan-refugees-free-tickets

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Football's Pioneers: Johnny Haynes

Professor Dilwyn Porter, from De Montfort University's International Centre for Sports History & Culture, recalls the career of England captain Johnny Haynes, who became Britain's first £100-a-week footballer.

Was any footballer, even England's captain, worth £100-a-week? That was the question often asked when the Football League abandoned its weekly wage cap, then just £20, in 1961. Fulham's chairman, comedian Tommy Trinder, had no doubts, and Johnny Haynes became a trailblazer, the first English professional to be paid a three-figure weekly wage. For Fulham it was money well spent.

Haynes had by then been at Craven Cottage for 10 years after joining the club from school. He first attracted attention as a 15-year-old, starring for England Schools in an 8-2 win over Scotland in 1950.

As a north London boy, Haynes had been expected to sign for Arsenal or Tottenham Hotspur, but chose unfashionable Fulham, then in the Second Division, where prospects of rapid advancement to the first team were better, making his debut at 18 on Boxing Day 1952.

Within two years, he had played for England, the first of 56 appearances for his country, 22 as captain. With Haynes in midfield, Fulham began to confound their critics, reaching the FA Cup's last four in 1958 and gaining promotion to the top tier in 1959.

Almost impossible to dispossess, he was a master of the defence-splitting diagonal ball bringing Fulham's flying wingers, Graham Leggat and Tosh Chamberlain, into play. He helped to keep Fulham in the top flight for the next 10 seasons, most remarkably in 1966/67, when they miraculously escaped relegation by winning nine and drawing two of their last 13 matches.

Haynes was at his peak for club and country in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Highlights included a hat-trick for England against the Soviet Union at Wembley in 1958 and a six-match spell under his captaincy in 1960/61, when a free-scoring attack, masterminded by Haynes, scored a total of 40 goals, including nine against Scotland at Wembley in 1961.

He went on to captain the side in the 1962 World Cup finals in Chile, when England went out to Brazil in the quarter-finals.

He was never short of critics – the usual complaint was that Haynes, though technically brilliant, was too predictable. Seriously injured in a car crash, he missed most of the 1962/63 season and was never quite the same force thereafter as he had been previously.

A fixture in the national team under Walter Winterbottom, he was never capped by his successor Alf Ramsey. Haynes remained loyal to Fulham even after the club was relegated to the Second Division in 1969 and, again, to the Third in 1970.

In total, he made 594 first team appearances for Fulham, scoring 146 goals. After retiring from English football in 1970, he played two seasons for Durban City in South Africa, winning two championship medals.

Haynes was a genuine household name in his day, appearing regularly in 1950s newspapers and on TV in advertisements for Brylcreem.

After his death in 2005, his contribution to Fulham was recognised when a stand at Craven Cottage was renamed in his honour and a statue at the ground followed a few years later.



https://www.lcfc.com/news/2440257/footballs-pioneers-johnny-haynes

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Francois 'raring to go'

Tyrese Francois can't wait to play competitive football again when Fulham travel to Bristol City in the FA Cup third round tomorrow.

The Australian midfielder, so impressive in the early weeks of the season when Marco Silva offered him an opportunity in the middle of the park, has been sharing his frustrations at the recent postponements in an interview with the club's official website:

"It's been tough with games getting cancelled last minute. We've had a good few sessions the last few days and spirits are high so I feel like we are just raring to get some games under our belts. It's difficult, especially when you're going into a week knowing you've got the game on the Saturday, and it gets to Thursday or Friday and then suddenly it gets cancelled so it's just about staying positive and staying ready.

It's given us time to work on some things but the way we show that is by playing games, which we haven't been able to do over the last couple of weeks. It's given us a bit of a reset and now we're ready to go. I don't know how many days or weeks it's been, but the FA Cup will be a good little warm up and then we can get going from there."

Francois, who hasn't featured for the first team since the League Cup success at Birmingham in August after picking up an ankle injury, knows the Robins will pose a real test at Ashton Gate.

"They're a tough side. A lot of energy, fit team, strong side. It will be hard but it's a good challenge and we will be up for it."



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2022/01/francois-raring-to-go/

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Palmer starts: The predicted Bristol City XI to face Fulham in the FA Cup on Saturday

Bristol City welcome Fulham to Ashton Gate on Saturday lunchtime in the third round of the FA Cup, for what is set to be the first of two ties between the pair in seven days.

Though Marco Silva's side are 12 places and 15 points above the Robins in the league table, it's the hosts that head into tomorrow's game in the better form.

City got back to winning ways against Millwall last weekend and deserved to take something against QPR in their final game of 2021, meaning there appears newfound positivity surrounding the club.

Fulham, meanwhile, have now gone five games without a win and haven't played since the 20th of December.

That will likely mean Silva names a strong XI in Bs3 but Nigel Pearson's team showed in September they were capable of getting a result against the Cottagers.

With a place in the FA Cup fourth round on the line, we've outlined the startling lineup we're expecting to see on Saturday...

Max O'Leary has been City's first choice goalkeeper in recent weeks but Pearson may look to give Dan Bentley another chance to impress in tomorrow's clash.

Rob Atkinson is another player that appears to have fallen out of favour a little but after the manager discussed his situation publicly in the pre-match press conference, you wonder whether we could see him back in the XI against Fulham.

Wholesale changes aren't expected, which may mean we see Tomas Kalas, Zak Vyner, and Cam Pring reprise their roles in the back four.

Matty James is one of the first names on the City teamsheet right now while Han-Noah Massengo will surely start alongside him in midfield after dazzling from the bench against Millwall.

Amid links with a move away from Ashton Gate, Pearson hinted that Kasey Palmer could return to the side and it would make sense for 18-year-old Alex Scott to be the player given a rest.

In Andi Weimann, the Robins have one of the Championship's in-form forwards and we can expect to see him involved again after his hattrick last weekend.

Starting Callum O'Dowda and Antoine Semenyo looks likely to give City the best chance of making it to the fourth round, though it would not be a surprise to see either Nahki Wells or Chris Martin given a chance.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/palmer-starts-the-predicted-bristol-city-xi-to-face-fulham-in-the-fa-cup-on-saturday/

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Leeds eye shock deal for £9m man relegated from Prem last season

Leeds United are looking to bring former Fulham and Chelsea man Ola Aina back to the Premier League from Serie A outfit Torino in the January transfer window, as reported by Tuttomercatoweb.

While the likes of Joachim Andersen, Tosin Adarabioyo and Alphonse Areola emerged from the wreckage of another disastrous top-flight campaign at Craven Cottage with their reputations enhanced, the same cannot really be said of Aina.

The £9 million Nigeria international joined Fulham on loan in the summer of 2020.

But, despite making 31 Premier League appearances under Scott Parker, it came as no surprise when The Cottagers decided against triggering the option-to-buy clause in Aina's contract.

Although it must be said that a second relegation in three years meant that his hefty price-tag probably would have been beyond the West London outfit anyway.

What is certain is that Aina hardly set the world alight in Fulham colours.

His use of the ball, especially in attacking areas, was consistently underwhelming, overhit crosses ballooning from one side of the pitch to the other quickly becoming something of an unfortunate trademark of Aina's short-lived Craven Cottage career.

So reports suggesting that the Chelsea academy graduate could return to England with Leeds United will raise an eyebrow or two – particularly among those residing in an SW6 postcode.

Can Ola Aina silence the doubters at Leeds?

Aina, it must be said, has impressed in his 16 Serie A appearances since returning to Turin last summer, his performances attracting the admiration of Marcelo Bielsa's relegation-threatened, injury-hit Leeds side.

The Whites won just three of the nine Premier League games in which Luke Ayling, the club's first-choice right-back, missed with a knee problem earlier this season.

Aina, though he arguably lacks Ayling's technique in the final third, would provide a more natural alternative than the versatile Jamie Shackleton or Bielsa's man-for-all-seasons-and-all-positions Stuart Dallas.

In addition to Aina, Leeds are reportedly eyeing up a pair of bargain swoops from the Championship. Reading's John Swift and Millwall's Jed Wallace will both become free-agents when the season ends.



https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2022/01/07/leeds-eye-shock-deal-for-9m-man-relegated-from-prem-last-season/

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Birmingham make Mawson move

Birmingham are mulling a January move for Fulham centre back Alfie Mawson, according to the Press Association.

The Blues are ready to offer the former Swansea City defender a three and a half year deal at St. Andrew's. Fulham are reported to have turned down an approach from Queens Park Rangers earlier in the week as Marco Silva wants to retain cover for Tim Ream and Tosin Adarabioyo given the current coronavirus concerns.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2022/01/birmingham-make-mawson-move/

[WhiteJC]

Birmingham eye Fulham deal, contract until 2024 on the table

Birmingham City are keen on Fulham centre-back Alfie Mawson and ready to offer him a three-and-a-half-year deal with a free transfer a possibility, according to journalist Nick Mashiter.

With Harlee Dean expected to leave, Dion Sanderson recalled by Wolves, and Teden Mengi joining on loan from Manchester United, January looks to be a month of change for the Blues backline.

Birmingham could be set to make Mawson their second defensive signing of the window as Mashiter has reported that the 27-year-old is a player the Championship club are keen on.

It is said that they will offer the centre-back a three-and-a-half-year deal, which would keep him at St Andrew's until 2024.

A free transfer is understood to be a possibility but Fulham are happy to keep hold of him as cover until his current deal expires in the summer.

Mawson was signed for a fee in the region of £15 million from Swansea City in 2018 but injuries have obstructed his Craven Cottage career.

He's been used as a backup by Marco Silva this term, featuring eight times in all competitions.

The Verdict

This could be a fantastic signing for Birmingham, though it may not be a cheap deal even if he's available on a free transfer.

Injuries have made things difficult for him at Fulham but when he can stay fit, Mawson is a fantastic centre-back at Championship level and a real leader.

He proved that on loan at Bristol City last term and has rarely looked out of place when called upon by Fulham this season.

Mawson would be an upgrade on Dean but is unlikely to come cheap as he's reportedly on £35,000 per week at Craven Cottage (Salary Sport).

Offering him a long-term deal on a significant wage would be a risk given his injury history but that's not to say it couldn't pay off if he can stay fit.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/birmingham-eye-fulham-deal-contract-until-2024-on-the-table/

[WhiteJC]

Football Is Back At Craven Cottage

Join us back at Craven Cottage in the New Year as Fulham face two crucial Sky Bet Championship clashes back-to-back.

Marco Silva's side welcome Bristol City to SW6 for our first home game of 2022 on Saturday 15th January, kick-off 3pm, before hosting Birmingham City in our rearranged fixture on Tuesday 18th January, kick-off 7.45pm.

Tickets for both fixtures are on General Sale and can be purchased online, by phone on 0203 871 0810 (Mon-Fri, 9.30am-4.30pm) or in person from the Fulham FC Ticket Office.

Tickets are priced from £30 for adults and £15 for juniors for Bristol City and £35 for adults and £15 for juniors for Birmingham. For more information on prices, please click here for Bristol City info and here for Birmingham City info.



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2022/january/07/join-us-back-at-craven-cottage/

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Blues keen to sign Fulham defender Mawson

Blues are keen on signing Fulham centre back Alfie Mawson on a free transfer, according to journalist Nick Mashiter.

A 3-and-a-half year deal has been put on the table as Lee Bowyer looks to bolster his backline even further following the loan signing of Man United's Teden Mengi.

This follows the news of Harlee Dean no longer in Bowyer's plans and also Dion Sanderson being recalled back to Wolves.

Mawson was signed for a fee in the region of £15 million from Swansea City in 2018 but injuries have obstructed his Craven Cottage career.

He's only featured eight times this season for Marco Silva and Fulham are understood to be happy in keeping him until his contract runs out in the summer.

However, this signing won't be cheap unless Mawson agrees to take a significant wage cut. According to Salary Sport, the 27-year-old is on a staggering £35,000 per week at Craven Cottage.



https://bluesfocus.co.uk/2022/01/07/blues-keen-to-sign-fulham-defender-mawson/

[WhiteJC]

Bristol City Matchday Preview

Bristol City v Fulham | Saturday 8th January 2022 | 12.30pm | Ashton Gate | #EmiratesFACup

The opposition 

    Currently occupying fifteenth in the league, Bristol City have had a tough first half of the season having won eight, drawn six and lost 11 games.
    However, in the FA Cup, history proves that form rarely means anything. Last season's FA Cup run saw the Robins make it to the fifth round of the competition, having got past Portsmouth and Millwall before meeting a then Premier League side in Sheffield United, who they subsequently lost 1-0 to.
    The Bristol City danger man comes in the form of Andreas Weimann, who has scored 12 goals so far this season from the wing and should he start, could ask some questions of the Fulham backline.

Bristol City team news

Andy King returns from his suspension and is available for selection, whilst George Tanner remains absent having suffered a reoccurrence of a hamstring injury in the Robins' final game of 2021.

Fulham team news

Marco confirmed that two players were still isolating having tested positive for COVID-19. Ivan Cavaleiro, although back training, is still a couple of weeks away from returning to full fitness and Jean Michaël Seri will be unavailable after his call-up to the Ivory Coast squad, who he will be representing in this years AFCON.

Tickets

This fixture is all ticket, there will be no sales on the day. Duplicate tickets and ticket collections can be picked up from the Away Turnstiles from 11.30am on matchday.

Weather

Fulham fans might want to bring their rain coats with them down to Ashton Gate as it's expected to be a soggy afternoon down in Bristol, with heavy rain showers forecasted for much of the morning and afternoon.

Player insight

"They're a tough side. A lot of energy, a fit team, a strong side. It will be hard but it's a good challenge and we will be up for it," said Tyrese Francois on Bristol City.

"It's been tough with games getting cancelled last minute. We've had a good few sessions the last few days and spirits are high so I feel like we are just raring to get some games under our belts."

Form

Bristol City: WDLLW

Fulham FC: DDDDL

Pre-match quotes

"They're a really good side. It will be a tough game because they're quite an accomplished side."

Nigel Pearson
Bristol City Manager

"They will match us for sure and they will try to do their best but again, it is up to us to do our best and win the game and go through the competition."

Marco Silva
Fulham Head Coach

https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2022/january/07/bristol-city-matchday-preview/

[WhiteJC]

🎥 No livestream for Fulham visit

Supporters are advised that tomorrow's match with Fulham will be unavailable to Robins TV subscribers (January 8th, 12:30pm KO).

The Emirates FA Cup fixture has been selected for overseas broadcast and, due to EFL and FA broadcasting regulations, the game will not be shown on Robins TV or in the UK domestically on any platform.

Tickets are still available for the Cup clash tomorrow, with kids getting into the Gate for just a quid.



https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/no-livestream-for-fulham-visit/

[WhiteJC]

Francois starts: The predicted Fulham XI to face Bristol City in the FA Cup on Saturday

Fulham travel to Ashton Gate tomorrow as they face Bristol City in the third round of the FA Cup, which will be their first match since the 20th of December due to postponements.

The cup tie will be first of two matches between the clubs in seven days, with the pair scheduled to meet in the Championship at Craven Cottage next Saturday.

Marco Silva has talked up his love for the competition ahead of the game but with their rearranged league clash with Reading coming on Tuesday, you feel we can expect to see some changes made.

With that in mind, we've outlined the XI we can expect to see in tomorrow's FA Cup clash...

Marek Rodak has been the first choice between the sticks in recent weeks but Paolo Gazzaniga may be given a chance to impress at Ashton Gate.

We can expect changes to the backline ahead of him, with Joe Bryan given a chance to return to face his boyhood club, Michael Hector partnering Tosin Adarabioyo at centre-back and Denis Odoi on the right.

Tyrese Francois has had to be patient and wait for opportunities this term but may well get a start alongside Nathaniel Chalobah on Saturday.

Ahead of him, Bobby Decordova-Reid could also start against his former club with captain Tom Cairney playing centrally and Harry Wilson reprising his role on the right.

No Championship player has score more goals than Aleksandar Mitrovic this season and with 22 in 22 games, he's on course to smash Ivan Toney's record, however, Silva could well decide to hold him back for the Royals and opt for 20-year-old Rodrigo Muniz in his place.

A victory would end a run of five games without a win for the Cottagers but they arrive in Bs3 with positivity surrounding Nigel Pearson's side, so it may not be easy.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/francois-starts-the-predicted-fulham-xi-to-face-bristol-city-in-the-fa-cup-on-saturday/

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Robbo makes first January move by signing Fulham striker

New signing goes straight into the squad for Boreham Wood

We are delighted to announce the signing of Fulham forward Terry Ablade on loan until the end of the season.

The 20-year-old, who plays predominately as a central striker, becomes Mark Robinson's first January signing since taking over as our Head Coach.

Signed by Fulham from Finnish side FC Jazz back in July 2018, Ablade has scored 19 goals across both the Under-18 and Under-23 age groups at academy level for the Cottagers.

A powerful and pacey attacker who was born in Ghana, Terry now embarks on his first senior loan spell away from Craven Cottage after training with the Dons this week.

Speaking after bolstering his forward options with the addition of Terry, Head Coach Mark Robinson said: "The recruitment panel have always got their eye on young players, so when we lost Aaron (Pressley), they began to look at potential forwards and Terry was a name that came up high on that list.

"As always, we did the due diligence on him, our scouts watched him a number of times, and they talked to other people that have watched him as well. We all came to the conclusion that for the money we've got available he is the player who can come in and make an impact at League One level.

"He's trained with us over the past week and was involved in an in-house game. Off the back of the feedback we've had on him as a person he has given us the confidence that he is going to be a real attribute for the squad."

Originally born in Ghana, the forward emigrated to Finland with his family when he was young and has since gone on to play internationally for his adopted nation at every age group up to Under-21 level – an experience that Robbo feels will serve Terry well as a player.

"You look at those sorts of things and to do that at a young age is not easy, so you need to have a certain sort of mentality and resilience to deal with those changes. The fact he has already overcome things like that shows that he has good character and that's all part and parcel of what we look at."

As for Terry's qualities, Robbo was glowing in his appraisal of what our new forward can offer to the team.

"He's very quick over 15 to 20 yards, he loves to get in behind people and he's got a real relentlessness about him," added our Head Coach. "One of the main bits of feedback I received was that even if he misses a chance he just keeps going and going - he never stops.

"His willingness to get in behind and his pace excited us. With us bringing back Aaron (Cosgrave) and also having Ollie it gives us some nice options.

"With the amount of games we've got coming up its down the middle that we feel we needed strengthening as we've got plenty of players who can play out wide and in those attacking midfield areas.

"Terry is full of hard work and dedication and that's exactly what we need."

Our new recruit goes straight into the squad for our game away at Boreham Wood on Saturday and has been handed the number 17 shirt.



https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2022/january/robbo-makes-first-january-move-by-signing-fulham-striker/

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Ablade joins AFC Wimbledon on loan

Young Fulham forward Terry Ablade has put pen to paper on a professional contract at Craven Cottage – and completed a loan move to League One AFC Wimbledon tonight.

The Finnish under 21 international, who has scored eight goals in eleven appearances for Steve Wigley's under 23 side this season, has committed his future to Fulham until the summer of 2025 and will now get valuable first team experience at Plough Lane.

The 20 year-old told Fulham's official website of his delight at turning pro:

I'm very happy about it because I've been aiming to get to this moment for a while now to be honest. I've been performing well this season in order to help me achieve a new contract so I'm really pleased to extend my stay."

He is also excited about the possibility of making the step up to senior football with Mark Robinson's Dons.

"I'm so excited to get stuck in. It's my first loan deal so to be able to play men's football is brilliant. I'm buzzing to get started and I'll make sure I work as hard as I can for the team."

Ablade, who has scored 21 goals in 72 appearances during three years in Fulham's academy, could make his debut in Wimbledon's FA Cup third round tie at Boreham Wood tomorrow. Fellow Fulham loanee Taye Ashby-Hammond, who has just extended his own loan at Meadow Park, will be trying to keep him at bay in that case.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2022/01/ablade-joins-afc-wimbledon-on-loan/

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Terry Ablade: AFC Wimbledon sign Fulham striker on loan

Terry Ablade scored 19 goals playing in Fulham's youth sides

AFC Wimbledon have signed Fulham striker Terry Ablade on loan until the end of the season.

The 20-year-old has scored 19 goals for the Cottagers in total for the under-18 and under-23 teams.

The Finland Under-21 international moved to Fulham from Finnish side FC Jazz in July 2018.

Wimbledon confirmed he would go straight into the squad for Saturday's FA Cup third-round tie away to Boreham Wood.

"He's very quick over 15 to 20 yards, he loves to get in behind people and he's got a real relentlessness about him," head coach Mark Robinson told the club's website.



https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59912982

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Up next: Bristol City (a)

Fulham face the surreal prospect of actually playing competitive football after three weeks of frustration following their lamentable loss to Sheffield United. The consternation caused by three successive postponements was evident in Marco Silva's irritation during yesterday's pre-match press conference where he lightly touched on the inconsistency in how the EFL's rules regarding the impact of coronavirus cases and injuries have been applied – although some of that soreness may also be prompted by the fact that the Whites find themselves out of the automatic promotion positions after eighteen days of kicking their heels.

Silva and his charges no longer look as invincible as they did during a seven-match winning run that propelled them to the top of the Championship table. Indeed, the Londoners were in the midst of a worrying stretch of form even before Paul Heckingbottom did a number on the promotion favourites at Craven Cottage before Christmas. Four fairly forgettable draws gave a pretty clear indication that the Championship had cottoned on to the way to frustrate Fulham's flowing football – and just how completely things had turned round is that Blackburn, thumped 7-0 in early November, have crept above the Whites into second place.

An early January weekend is traditionally a place to park the trials and tribulations of the league and concentrate on the Cup. Fulham's record in the world's oldest Cup competition is lamentable: you have to go back five years for the last time they reached the fifth round, when Slavisa Jokanovic's side were easily dispatched by Spurs, and the same opposition derailed our last journey deep into the competition when Roy Hodgson's men – already with half an eye on the Europa League – let a replay at White Hart Lane slip out of their grasp after a brilliant Bobby Zamora opener.

Silva has been candid enough to admit that, although he loved watching the Cup from Portugal with his father as a boy, his priorities are an immediate return to the Premier League and managing a mounting January fixture list. That means there should be significant rotation, something the head coach has largely resisted despite having one of the division's strongest squads since he took over from Scott Parker. What that precisely looks like at Ashton Gate tomorrow lunchtime is anyone's guess with Ivan Cavaleiro still some way from match sharpness and a couple of unnamed Covid cases in the camp.

There should be an opportunity for a few fringe players to stake a claim for a spot in what has remained a remarkably consistent line-up. Rodrigo Muniz would relish an opportunity to lead the line and this fixture would offer a low pressure way to measure his progress against Championship opposition. It seems ideal for Nathaniel Chalobah to slot into the Jean Michael Seri role in central midfield, perhaps with the fit again Tyrese Francois alongside him.

Bristol City have been maddeningly inconsistent since Nigel Pearson took the helm – although they did mount a stirring comeback to beat Millwall last time out and move up to fifteenth. Hat-trick hero Andreas Weimann, a regular scourge of Fulham in the past, offered potency in the penalty area and there's a possibility that a couple of old Fulham faces could line up for the Robins. Chris Martin would probably like nothing more than knock the Whites out of the Cup given the acrimony that accompanied his 2016/17 loan spell, whilst Rob Atkinson has matured into a fine ball-playing centre back since leaving Motspur Park. He could line up alongside another blast from the past, Tomas Kalas in Pearson's reshaped rearguard.

Just how seriously both sides will embrace the fading magic of the Cup, with their focus firmly on matters at either end of the league table, remains to be seen. Victory will serve as a shot in the arm ahead of a critical January run of fixtures – and both bosses will welcome the fact that there will be no replay.

MY FULHAM XI (4-2-3-1): Gazzaniga; S. Sessegnon, Bryan, Mawson, Hector; Chalobah, Francois; Decordova-Reid, Cavaleiro, Cairney; Muniz. Subs: Rodak, Odoi, Onomah, Reed, Hilton, Kebano, Mitrovic.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2022/01/up-next-bristol-city-a-3/