Wednesday Fulham Stuff - 30/03/22...

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22/23 Riverside Stand Season Tickets

Former Riverside Stand Season Ticket Holders in Priority Group 1 are able to purchase their 2022/23 Season Ticket in the new Riverside Stand from 10am on Tuesday 29th March.

Following the recent announcement that the Lower Tier of the new Riverside Stand will open to supporters next season, fans who previously held a Season Ticket in the Riverside Stand have been placed into three different priority groups, with groups based on their location held in the previous Riverside Stand. Priority Group details were sent to supporters by post and email.

The first Priority Group window will open at 10am on Tuesday 29th March, lasting seven days. Fans who do not purchase a seat during their allocated priority window will not be able to purchase during other sales windows and will have to wait until all of the priority windows have ended.

Supporters eligible to purchase in the new Riverside Stand can log in at tickets.fulhamfc.com, view and select seats from the available blocks.

Further Information
PREPARE FOR YOUR SALES WINDOW

With in-person visits to Craven Cottage unavailable, use the Club's 3D seat tool to gain an understanding of the different types of views available from the new stand.



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2022/march/29/22-23-riverside-stand-season-tickets/

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"We are full of confidence" – Christie ahead of Cardiff City game

Cyrus Christie will play in his first South Wales derby on Saturday when the Swans head east up the M4 looking to become the first side in the fixture's history to do the league double.

October's 3-0 win over the same side at the Swansea.com stadium may well be almost six months ago but a similar result on Saturday will see this current Swans side go down in history as the first side to achieve that feat.

Christie, who joined the Swans on loan from Fulham in January, knows already just how big this game is to fans of both sides and revealed at the weekend that it was one of the first things that he heard about when signing for the club – saying that he was told that before some people had even told him their name!

Christie's appearances have definitely been a high point since his arrival on loan and a permanent deal certainly appears to be more than a likely possibility as a result of that but his performances have to remain high if that is to be the case and, after a two week break between games, all of that together could mean bad news on the weekend for our South Walian cousins.

"We all know how big the Cardiff game is – no one needs to talk about that," Christie told the official site.

"It's the first time anyone could do the double so it's a big game and we know how much it means to everyone.

"I think [the derby double] is one of the first things someone mentioned to me.

"I think it was Kev the maintenance man and one of the ground staff. They mentioned it before they'd even introduced themselves, so I know how big it is.

"At any club you're at, when it's a rival team everyone wants the bragging rights, and we'll go into that game full of confidence.

"I've been at a few clubs now where the derby games are massive, and no one likes to be on the losing side of it."



https://planetswans.co.uk/2022/03/29/we-are-full-of-confidence-christie-ahead-of-cardiff-city-game/

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Cyrus Christie speaks out ahead of Swansea City's Welsh derby with Cardiff this weekend

Swansea City travel to rivals Cardiff City this weekend in what will be a big game for both sides.

The game doesn't mean much in terms of the league for either side with Swansea sitting 16th in the table and Cardiff just one place below them.

However with Swansea having overcome their opponents 3-0 in the first leg of this fixture, they will now be looking to become the first team to do the derby double in a season.

For right back Cyrus Christie this will be his first Welsh derby, after joining Swansea on loan in January, but he has assured fans he's well aware of the importance of the game as he told the club's Official Media: "We all know how big the Cardiff game is – no one needs to talk about that.

"It's the first time anyone could do the double so it's a big game and we know how much it means to everyone.

"I think [the derby double] is one of the first things someone mentioned to me.

"I think it was Kev the maintenance man and one of the ground staff. They mentioned it before they'd even introduced themselves, so I know how big it is."

Christie has played in derbies before and knows what to expect as he said, "At any club you're at, when it's a rival team everyone wants the bragging rights, and we'll go into that game full of confidence.

"I've been at a few clubs now where the derby games are massive, and no one likes to be on the losing side of it."

The Verdict:

With neither Swansea or Cardiff having anything to play for now this season, this fixture will give both sides a nice taste of some competition.

Although they haven't achieved much this season, if Swansea become the first team to do the league double it will definitely give the fans something to sing about.

It seems as though everyone at the club knows the importance of the occasion and is confident going into it so the Swans will be hoping this helps them overcome their rivals.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/cyrus-christie-speaks-out-ahead-of-swansea-citys-welsh-derby-with-cardiff-this-weekend/

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Opinion: Fulham should consider summer transfer swoop for Championship midfielder with 15 goal contributions

Fulham's return to the Premier League – barring a collapse in form of epic proportions – will more than likely be confirmed in the coming weeks as the Championship season nears its climax.

Despite the odd poor result, the Cottagers have been irresistible for most of the campaign and have scored goals left, right and centre on their way to a likely promotion.

When that is confirmed, then work can begin on constructing a squad that is able to remain in the Premier League for at least one season, because the last two times the London outfit have been in the top flight they've come crashing straight back down.

Fulham don't necessarily have to splash out millions upon millions on new talent either – even though they probably will do – and there are bargains to be had that can improve their squad.

And with Fabio Carvalho likely not going to be a Cottager next season, with Liverpool reaching an agreement 'in principle' for the teenager, according to Football Insider, more depth will be needed in the attacking midfield area.

There are a few players in the Championship this season that could very well be ready to make that step up to the top flight for the first time, and Jed Wallace of Millwall fits into that category.

The 28-year-old has been a loyal servant to the Lions after his arrival in 2017 from Wolves, and has lit up The Den in recent years with his wonder strikes and performances.

Wallace though has been able to run his contract down, and there was major interest in his services back in January with Turkish giants Besiktas and also Championship rivals Nottingham Forest locked in a transfer battle.

Nothing materialised though which left Wallace a Millwall player until the end of the current campaign – but what happens after that is anyone's guess.

The player in question will know full well that he will be a wanted man this summer, and the fact he can play in all of the attacking midfield positions – whether that is in the number 10 role or out wide – means he could be a useful asset to Fulham.

Of course there's no guarantee that Wallace would be able to cut it in the Premier League, but at the age of 28 it's a case of now or never, and his Championship form in recent years is certainly deserving of him getting a chance.

This season, Wallace has six goals and nine assists in 32 matches, which is down on 11 goals and five assists from last season and 10 goals and 13 assists in 2019-20, but he's showing the kind of consistency that makes a move to a bigger club inevitable.

And when you consider the fact that Millwall aren't the most prolific of teams – imagine what Wallace could do providing crosses and assists to the likes of Aleksandar Mitrovic.

There won't be many better free transfers out there this summer than Wallace, and Fulham should try and steal a march on their rivals to bring him to Craven Cottage.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/opinion-fulham-should-consider-summer-transfer-swoop-for-championship-midfielder-with-15-goal-contributions/

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Sky Sport pundit delivers play-off verdict involving QPR ahead of club's clash with Fulham

Sky Sports pundit Jobi McAnuff has admitted that he believes that Queens Park Rangers may find it difficult to secure a place in the play-offs later this year in the absence of Chris Willock.

Willock is set to miss the remainder of the campaign due to the severity of the hamstring injury that he suffered during the R's 3-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest earlier this month.

Before picking up this problem, the 24-year-old managed to set the Championship alight with his attacking displays.

In the 35 appearances that he made at this level for QPR, Willock scored seven goals and provided 11 assists.

The R's will now need the likes of Ilias Chair, Lyndon Dykes and Andre Gray to step up to the mark if they are to remain in contention for a top-six finish.

Having recently suffered back-to-back defeats at the hands of Forest and Peterborough United, it will be intriguing to see whether QPR are able to deliver a response in their meeting with league leaders Fulham this weekend.

Ahead of this fixture, McAnuff has offered an assessment on the current situation at QPR.

Speaking on the latest episode of the Sky Sports EFL Podcast about the R's , McAnuff said: "They have been building steadily and listen, regardless of whether they do or not, Mark Warburton's done a great job and it is a club that looks like it is heading in the right direction.

"But again it's all about timing and losing Willock you know is going to be a huge blow, they've had issues in that centre-forward position really all season if I'm being honest and I think that could be a factor for them down the stretch when you have other teams around them with strikers in form, teams that are scoring goals.

"I think yeah, in those really tight games which there are undoubtedly going to be, that could be a big factor for them and yeah, I'd fear for them a little at the moment just in terms of them being that team that's been there all year, we saw it with Reading last season, just slip out at the last minute.

"But they have still got quality, that's one thing I will say about QPR and maybe they could be a team that has sort of reset.

"We talk about the international break, maybe just reevaluating where they are and what they need to get in and yeah I would say certainly them and Blackburn I would fear for."

The Verdict

It is hard to disagree with McAnuff's comments about QPR as Willock has become a talisman this season and thus losing him may have a major impact on their fortunes in the Championship.

Warburton will be hoping to use the international break to his advantage by galvanizing his players in training ahead of their upcoming clashes with Fulham and Sheffield United.

Currently two points adrift of the play-off places, QPR could move back into the top-six if they pick up positive results in these aforementioned fixtures.

However, a failure to step up the mark will almost certainly lead to the R's slipping down the Championship standings.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/sky-sport-pundit-delivers-play-off-verdict-involving-qpr-ahead-of-clubs-clash-with-fulham/

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One winner and one loser at Fulham if club finalise transfer deal for 29-year-old

Championship side Fulham are monitoring Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope ahead of a potential approach in the summer, according to last weekend's report from The Sun.

The 29-year-old has been one of the first names on the teamsheet for Sean Dyche's men in recent years with a move to the second tier unlikely to tempt the England international.

However, Marco Silva's side are on course to seal promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking and are preparing to launch a move for the shot-stopper who is currently valued at £20m by officials at Turf Moor.

That's a sizeable fee for the Cottagers who already have two established keepers at their disposal – but after recruiting Alphonse Areola on a loan deal for their previous top-tier campaign last term – they look set to enter the market once again in a bid to strengthen this position.

The addition of Pope as a top-tier quality player can only be a good thing for the current promotion favourites who will be looking to secure their place in the Premier League for the long term – but not everyone at the club will benefit if the 29-year-old was to sign on the dotted line in the English capital.

With this in mind, we take a look at one winner and one loser from this potential deal.

Winner: Paulo Gazzaniga
This may seem like a strange selection considering his arrival is likely to push the Argentine down the pecking order – but it will at least give him more of a reason to push for a move away from Craven Cottage.

Making just 12 league appearances this term and not appearing for the Cottagers in the second tier since November, it looks as though his future would be better served elsewhere.

An injury to Marek Rodak could change his situation in the English capital, but he can't rely on two goalkeepers in the Slovakian and Pope getting injured to win a starting spot and at 30, he has far too much to give to the game just to sit on the bench.

Pope's arrival may allow the 30-year-old to move on to become a first-choice shot-stopper elsewhere, whether that's in England or abroad, so being pushed down the pecking order in this way may end up being beneficial for his career.

Loser: Marek Rodak
Considering the second-tier side are likely to fork out an eight-figure fee for the services of the England international if they do manage to get this deal over the line, he is likely to be one of the first names on the teamsheet.

This is likely to consign Rodak to a spot on the bench, a real blow for the 25-year-old considering he has been an established starter in the English capital for months now.

Arguably, he doesn't deserve to lose his spot in the starting lineup but that almost seems inevitable if they get this deal over the line.

A World Cup spot isn't exactly on the line with his national team Slovakia already being knocked out in the qualifying phase – but he will want to fully test himself in the top tier after only winning two league appearances last term.

Pope's arrival probably wouldn't give him that opportunity.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/one-winner-and-one-loser-at-fulham-if-club-finalise-transfer-deal-for-29-year-old/

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Price tag revelation emerges on Liverpool man ahead of potential permanent Fulham agreement

Premier League outfit Liverpool were willing to cash in on full-back Neco Williams for a £10m fee last summer, as per journalist David Lynch who spoke in an interview with Anfield Watch.

The 20-year-old has been in and around Jurgen Klopp's first team for the past couple of years now and has become an established international player for Wales – but struggled for game time on Merseyside and was loaned out to promotion favourites Fulham in January.

He has thrived at Craven Cottage, recording two goals and two assists in nine league appearances thus far and has become one of the first names on the teamsheet ahead of Kenny Tete, a considerable achievement in itself.

With this increased game time under his belt, Williams is reportedly seeking a permanent move to his current temporary side and as per that same Football Insider report, the Reds will demand around £12m for his services.

This may be spare change for the Cottagers if they are promoted to the Premier League at the end of this term, something that looks like an inevitability at this stage and would be the second eight-figure deal to be concluded between Klopp's side and the west London outfit in a year after Harry Wilson's move to the latter last summer.

But journalist Lynch believes they may be able to recruit the full-back for a cheaper price, revealing that they were seeking £2m less than the £12m they are reported to be demanding last year.

He said to Anfield Watch: "Neco has been a revelation since making the switch to Fulham and, if they secure promotion to the Premier League as expected, it'd be a surprise if they decided against a move.

"Liverpool were willing to strike a deal last summer for around £10m and the player himself was keen on going in order to get more minutes.

"On the basis of his performances for Fulham so far, I doubt that asking price will have shifted much at all and could see an agreement being struck at around that this summer."

The Verdict:

This may seem like a sizeable investment considering they already have Tete at their disposal and they certainly wouldn't be able to spend big on him if they remain in the second tier considering the amount they have already spent on Wilson.

However, they look set to win a place in the top tier and with Williams only likely to improve at 20, concluding this deal seems like a no-brainer for a man who will go on to establish himself as a real asset in the top tier if he can avoid injuries.

Getting him tied down to a long-term deal will be key though, preferably a five-year agreement to allow the Welshman to fulfil his potential before possibly selling him on for a much bigger fee.

Marco Silva's side may be hesitant to do this considering they could fall straight back into the second tier once again – but making shrewd investments in the summer will be key to their survival in the top flight next term.

Signing Williams for £10m-£12m would be the very definition of a shrewd acquisition, so it's definitely a deal the second-tier outfit's recruitment deal need to conclude.

Then focusing on getting a central defender and a replacement for Fabio Carvalho may be next on their transfer agenda.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/price-tag-revelation-emerges-on-liverpool-man-ahead-of-potential-permanent-fulham-agreement/

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FLW TV: Is Liverpool the right move for Fulham starlet Fabio Carvalho?

Fulham might have one foot in the Premier League looking ahead to 2022/23, but there's still a lot on the line for the Championship leaders heading into the summer.

One hot topic at the moment is the future of Fabio Carvalho, Fulham's 19-year-old playmaker with a number of pathways presenting themselves heading into next season.

Liverpool were hot on the heels of the teenager in January and were on course to sign Carvalho on Deadline Day.

Ultimately, a deal between Fulham and Liverpool failed to meet the January deadline, leaving Carvalho a Fulham player until the summer when his contract at Craven Cottage expires.

As things stand, it seems that Liverpool are in the driving seat to strike a deal with Carvalho ahead of next season and are keen to get a deal in principle with Fulham to avoid a tribunal to decide compensation.

Over on FLW TV, our panel discuss whether or not Anfield is the right move for the 19-year-old and whether he could return to Fulham on loan, as was planned back in January.

Check out the full episode over on YouTube:




https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/flw-tv-is-liverpool-the-right-move-for-fulham-starlet-fabio-carvalho/

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Journalist backs Fulham to sign £12m man, says he can 'absolutely' see the transfer happening

Journalist David Lynch says he can 'absolutely' see Liverpool youngster Neco Williams making his loan stay at Fulham permanent in the summer.

Williams, 20, has shone on loan at Fulham since joining back in January. The Welsh international has netted twice and assisted as many in his nine Championship appearances so far, with reports backing the Londoners to pursue a permanent deal.

And separate reports have suggested that Williams would be open to making the permanent switch to Craven Cottage with first-team opportunities at Liverpool limited.

And having his say on the matter, trusted Liverpool reporter Lynch told Anfield Watch when asked if he can see Williams moving to Fulham permanently in the summer:

"Absolutely. Neco has been a revelation since making the switch to Fulham and, if they secure promotion to the Premier League as expected, it'd be a surprise if they decided against a move."

Lynch though went on to reveal that Williams was available for just £10million last summer, compared to recent reports which have suggested a £12million price tag.

"Liverpool were willing to strike a deal last summer for around £10million and the player himself was keen on going in order to get more minutes," he continued.

"On the basis of his performances for Fulham so far, I doubt that asking price will have shifted much at all and could see an agreement being struck at around that this summer."

A done deal?

Nothing is set in stone right now. But with Liverpool seemingly keen to cash in on a player that wouldn't be used very much in their own side, and Fulham also keen to bring in a player who has greatly improved their side, there seems to be nothing standing between Williams moving to Fulham this summer.

If Fulham can cough up the supposed £12million transfer fee then it will be a really shrewd bit of business – Williams has a lot of experience for a young player and has shone in this attacking Fulham side.

Fulham return to action against QPR this weekend.



https://the72.co.uk/268392/journalist-backs-fulham-to-sign-12m-man-says-he-can-absolutely-see-the-transfer-happening/

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Fulham fans hit back at club over £1,000 season tickets for new Riverside Stand at Craven Cottage

The Fulham Supporters' Trust are putting pressure on the club to rethink their approach to season tickets in the new Riverside Stand, after it was confirmed that a flat rate of £1,000 would be charged.

It was initially expected that the new stand would be ready for the start of next season, but following delays Fulham have confirmed that only a limited area - the lower tier - will open from the start of the new season.

The club say more than 2,000 tickets went on sale, from Tuesday, at a flat rate of £1,000 for adults who formerly held a season ticket in the Riverside Stand and £500 for under-18s.

In some limited areas of the stand, this means season tickets will have risen by over 300 per cent. The cost of renewal in 2018-19, the last season before the renovation began, ranged from £299 to £839.

Fulham are also yet to confirm the price for renewals in the three other stands at Craven Cottage, meaning those who have the opportunity to return to the Riverside Stand will be unable to calculate the difference in price from where they are currently sitting.

Season ticket prices for the rest of the ground will be announced in May, once Fulham know which division they will be in next season. Fans offered the chance to move to the Riverside Stand only have until April 18 to take up their priority offer to return.

Fans who previously sat in the Riverside Stand but do not elect to take up the offer to return next season will be offered the same chance once the stand opens fully so long as they remain season ticket holders.

Fulham say that food and drink will be served on the concourse but that the stand will not be completed, meaning fans face paying £1,000 to sit in a building site.

When contacted by Standard Sport, Fulham pointed to their press release on March 17 which confirmed the prices and sale process.

The Fulham Supporters' Trust, who were not consulted before the announcement but are in dialogue with the club, have called on the club to re-think this approach and ensure that prices across the rest of the ground ensure affordable tickets for supporters - though there is no sign that Fulham are changing their plans.

In a letter to members this week, Trust chair Tom Greatrex said: "It was disappointing that despite the Trust in previous years having done a lot of work on ticketing and pricing there was no consultation on the prices announced for the lower tier ahead of time.

"While Fulham have said that the flat rate price of £1,000 for 19 games is for one season only, they should not be surprised that the response has been far from warm.

"If they had asked us, we would have been able to predict it pretty accurately. Perhaps that is why they didn't – perhaps they knew too, but wanted to test the market beyond our existing supporters regardless.

"Removing concessions for older fans throughout the stand, a flat rate price, and not announcing pricing elsewhere in the ground at the same time have unsurprisingly been the issues of concern. Over the last few days, members of the Trust board have been in discussion with the club on these points – explaining the feedback and asking for changes.

"We know these points have been relayed to the decision makers at Fulham, we don't know whether they will decide to act upon them."

Greatrex added: "There is no doubt that the Riverside Stand is an impressive addition to our ground and, when fitted out and fully open, has the potential to be the 'game changer' in terms of additional income streams and expanded capacity.

"The Fulham fanbase is not stupid. We know that when the new stand is fully open the best seats will be the most expensive in the ground, and out of the reach of many."



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/fulham-riverside-stand-season-tickets-b991167.html

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32 goals conceded, 3 saves per game: Do Nick Pope's Burnley stats support Fulham interest in a transfer?

Nick Pope has regularly been in contention with the England squad and remains a key Burnley player, having featured in 130 league games for the side and counting.

As preparation for a potential season in the Premier League then, it is no surprise to see Fulham linked with a move for the 29-year-old and it could take a big money move to tempt the Clarets into parting ways with someone who has been pivotal for them over the last few years.

The goalkeeper though arguably remains a top flight talent judging from his stats this year – and adding him to the Cottagers squad, even if they are in the Championship, could be a real coup for the club.

Considering the amount of exposure he has had to high-level football – 129 Premier League starts with 154 goals conceded via FBRef – shows just how experienced he is at that level and how much solidity he could offer to Fulham in goal. He knows what it takes to keep out some of the best strikers in England in that case – and that could really help the Cottagers keep a foothold in the Premier League if they get there.

This year hasn't been his best stats wise but that arguably comes down to the form of the rest of his team, as they remain firmly in a relegation battle. He's averaged 1.3 goals conceded per game (as per SofaScore), which is up slightly on his rate from last season but is still not a bad average at all.

On a more positive note, he also averages three saves per game with a success rate of 70%. It shows that even in a team that has often struggled to get results and has often found itself on the back foot, he has still been able to keep his side in games and win them points. He made two saves against Tottenham for example and kept a clean sheet in a valuable victory and a week earlier than that, he repeated the feat by claiming another clean sheet against Brighton and making one save and two punches.

Pope then is still on the top of his game, even if Burnley haven't been. You can see he is still clearly a very good option for them to have or for any side to have in the top flight – and if the Clarets do end up relegated and Fulham go up, then he could be a really shrewd addition to help them stay up in the top flight.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/32-goals-conceded-3-saves-per-game-do-nick-popes-burnley-stats-support-fulham-interest-in-a-transfer/

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How Liverpool FC Target Fabio Carvalho Was Discovered And What The Man Who Found Him Did Next

It was at a family and friends 5-aside game on a Saturday morning that Humphrey Aghoghovbia Jr first saw Fulham FC wonder-kid Fabio Carvalho play.

As far as he knew this was the only way for the then-Brentford FC scout to see the child from Portugal's abilities. Even getting permission for him to play was a challenge, Carvalho's parents didn't speak English and he had to get a friend to communicate with them.

Despite being the youngest player there, his talent was clear to see.

"He could receive the ball elegantly with his right and left, it didn't look like he had a weaker foot," Humphrey told me, "he was playing without pressure, his receiving [of the ball] and fundamental [skills] just ticked all the boxes. He had that Neymar look about him.

"It was ridiculous because he was playing against heavily maturated teenagers, even some men, and he's just like a little 11-year-old."

Humphrey had been tipped off about Carvalho's abilities by a friend who was a youth worker doing a project in the boy's primary school, the same place where remarkably one future international player, Jadon Sancho, had been demonstrating his ability in the playground kick-about not long before.

"I've got a talent for you," Humphrey's friend told him, "he just plays in the playground, in the youth center and he's a baller. How are we going to get him in? Because if he doesn't play for a club, [people] won't see it. "

At that stage, the Portuguese kid's abilities felt like South London's best-kept secret, but it didn't stay that way.

Soon there was a bunfight to land his signature.

Humphrey was in the process of moving from Brentford to Fulham when he discovered Carvalho, so it maybe wasn't surprising when the Bees were soon trying to land the youngster.

But when Manchester United and Chelsea started making moves, it was clear that word had spread well beyond West London of this bright young star still in primary school.

"Out of nowhere it became a rat race for him because other clubs became interested," Humphrey added.

It turned out that Carvalho had been playing for another team, Balham Blazers, the club had strong links with Fulham and the West London side's effort in developing a relationship with the youngster proved crucial in the end.

The choice has worked out well for both club and player. Having made his debut at the end of last season, Carvalho has been instrumental in helping Fulham's charge back to the Premier League this year.

In January, he was poised to move to Liverpool FC, but the transfer broke down at the last moment, the move is expected to be rekindled this summer.

Maybe the Portuguese youngster's talent would have been spotted regardless of whether he'd joined Humphrey's Saturday game, but the scout can't help wondering 'what if it doesn't?'

He's found so many players in unusual settings, casual kickarounds or school tournaments, and seen them sign with established teams.

He knows that, especially with youngsters, the methods for spotting talent are incredibly idiosyncratic, clubs rely on people being in the right place at the right time or word of mouth.

It's crazy, considering how data-driven the scouting is amongst older age groups, that the search for youth players isn't more systematic.

Although, given the game's chequered past in safeguarding children, both from people exploiting the prestige of the sport for nefarious purposes and protecting the mental health of kids to whom they promise much and deliver little, it perhaps isn't such a surprise.

Humphrey, however, thinks he's developed a solution.

Like many problems in the 21st century, the availability of affordable technology is key to Humphrey's concept for stopping talent slipping through the cracks.

In the past, filming soccer games was expensive, to get something watchable you needed a professional team. Even at the highest level 'having the cameras' come to film your team was an event.

Youth soccer was rarely ever filmed and if it was the footage was grainy and wobbly, filmed by a parent on the touchline. Cutting together a highlights reel of a player's best moments or areas for improvement was pretty much unthinkable because of the time and effort it required.

But these days the kids themselves carry cameras capable of capturing high-definition footage to equal the Premier League's cameras on their phones and editing can be done in minutes.

Through his soccer development company LionHeart Football, Humphrey's idea is to leverage the ease at which players and their families can capture footage to ensure more talent gets spotted.

The firm already has a soccer academy and offers one-to-one tuition, but it's now, in collaboration with the University of Roehampton, launching a Player ID platform.

Essentially it's like LinkedIn for aspiring soccer stars. Players create a profile that acts as a shop window for scouts of professional teams. Match footage is uploaded so talent spotters can get an immediate sense of a youngster's abilities.

Where it differs from a professional social network is that players can also seek feedback from the LionHeart Football coaches. If they send footage Humphrey's team will create compilations of areas of their game that are strong and other parts that they need to work on.

"I remember, when I was younger I never got a chance to watch myself play. In fact, I never really got feedback from coaches," he explained, "[no one ever told me] you're a really powerful runner, but your heading technique's not great.

"[On the platform] they get that sort of specific purposeful feedback."

It's the type of coaching that normally only children in professional academies have access to, but which LionHeart is offering anyone remotely.

"The innovation is that you've got scouts now that can actually access players remotely online," he continued, "I think that's where the industry is headed with the use of new technology. More and more games at grassroots level are being videoed now."

Modernizing scouting
Humphrey is keen to stress that the platform is not there to sell the dream of being a soccer player to kids who will likely be disappointed.

He wants parents to be are a key part of the platform, children require parental consent to sign up and any videos need to be properly approved by all those featured.

There is a tiered system of packages, but even buying the most comprehensive one won't guarantee the attention of a scout using the system.

"First and foremost we support players' development by giving them the opportunity to use video to get expert feedback on areas for improvement," Humphrey explained.

"The bonus to that is being on a platform where your video is accessible to professional football clubs which obviously increases your exposure because there may be scouts that can't get out to watch your games physically."

He believes this same feature, the ability to quickly analyze many players virtually, is what makes the platform an attractive proposition to professional clubs.

"For the clubs, it's a case of leaning out their processes [and] focusing on quality over quantity with the number of scout employees. They have a tool to help them and they're not reliant on waiting seven days before they can go out again on a Saturday to watch games."

Interest in the platform is strong from across England's professional divisions. Premier League outfits Arsenal, Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace have expressed an interest, whilst lower down the leagues Reading and AFC Wimbledon have spoken to the business.

An industry lacking structure
Beyond bringing in clients, Humphrey wants is to help move scouting into the 21st century because, although it's changing, the industry remains behind in a lot of ways.

"Scouting when I first got into it was heavily dominated by volunteers and, beyond that, scouts were paid a pittance," he added.

"I was lucky enough to have success early and progress from being a volunteer into getting a paid wage [but others aren't]"

He pointed out that a lot of the most talented scouts end up becoming agents because the pay is so much higher.

So low is the value of the work they do that it was only 5 years ago that the FA began to properly install a structure for people to become officially qualified in the discipline.

That's a very long time for there to be a total lack of structure and it means that important decisions about who to refer to a professional club are still, in many places, being made by people who are not properly trained.

It also opens the door to people with more harmful motivations, a spectrum ranges from people on a power trip to dangerous sex offenders.

The most notorious pedophile in English soccer history, Barry Bennell, exploited both the casual relationships scouts had with clubs and the power that being the gatekeeper to many children's dreams brings.

More important than the business gains that can be generated from having a proper structure for scouting are the safeguarding protections better regulation would bring.

Credit where it's due
However far Carvalho goes in his career one thing Humphrey is sure of is that his role in discovering the talent will probably remain a footnote.

"People will often not credit scouts," he said, "I don't think there's enough visibility for scouts who find players and ultimately part of the scout's currency and value is who they've scouted."

Occasionally, like in the case of Steve Walsh who brought Riyad Mahrez, Jamie Vardy and N'Golo Kanté to Leicester City, a prolific run of finding talent gains a reputation.

But more often than not, the credit for finding talent is attributed to the club, manager or agent, the talent spotters rarely get a mention.

Maybe, if his platform does alter the way things are done that will change.



https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakgarnerpurkis/2022/03/29/how-liverpool-fc-target-fabio-carvalho-was-discovered-and-what-the-man-who-found-him-did-next/

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Dean Henderson from Man Utd to Fulham: What do we know so far? It is likely to happen?

Fulham have had a brilliant season this year and look highly likely to go up to the Premier League automatically this season.

This season they have been scoring for fun with top scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic scoring 35 goals himself so far this season.

However, if they are wanting to remain in the Premier League next season, they are going to have to focus on being able to keep the ball out at the other end especially against some big attacking threat in the Premier League.

What do we know so far?

According to a report from The Sun, Fulham are considering a loan move for Manchester United goalkeeper Dean Henderson.

There is no doubt that Henderson would be a good signing for them, you just have to look at the time he spent with Sheffield United to see how he would do at a team like Fulham.

However, it is also reported that Fulham would be more interested in getting a goalkeeper on a permanent deal if possible and are looking at Burnley's Nick Pope as a priority for that position.

Nick Pope again would be a great signing for the Cottagers but with the price tag on Pope currently sitting at £20million, it's unknown whether Fulham boss Marco Silva would feel it's the right move to go for.

At the moment, it seems to be a situation that Fulham will be monitoring as the season comes to a close but with the priority being slightly more on the singing of Pope with Henderson as a back-up option.

Is it likely to happen?

It's a hard one to call at the minute and it probably depends on where everyone finishes at the end of the season.

Although there's currently the £20million price tag on Pope, if Burnley were to be relegated this season it is likely we would see that fee decrease therefore making it a more attractive option for Fulham.

However, Henderson is a very good goalkeeper and a club like Fulham is somewhere you can see him excelling in his role so in that sense, Fulham will have to weigh up how much they want to pay for a goalkeeper and whether Pope would be worth the extra money.

That being said, you can understand why Fulham would prefer to be looking at a permanent goalkeeper as the defensive element of the side is something they will need to improve if they wish to stay up in the Premier League next season and therefore, it may do them some favours to gain some stability at the back, which would mean going for Pope.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/dean-henderson-from-man-utd-to-fulham-what-do-we-know-so-far-it-is-likely-to-happen/

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Opinion: Premier League goalkeeper would be a good Fulham signing, but should not be a priority

With Fulham top of the Sky Bet Championship and looking like winning the league title with ease, talk is already turning to potential signings the Cottagers could make this summer.

The latest player to be linked with a move to Craven Cottage is England international and Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope.

According to a report by The Sun, Marco Silva is keen to get the transfer planning underway and Pope is a player lined up if his current side, Burnley, are relegated from the Premier League this season.

The Clarets are currently 19th in the Premier League table, and if they go down, the report states that Pope would be due a hefty pay cut – one he could avoid by making the move to Craven Cottage.

With that being said, it is the opinion of this article that whilst Pope would represent a good signing for Fulham this summer, his signing should certainly not be seen as a priority and one that must be urgently made.

That's largely down to two reasons – the reported price tag and the fact Fulham are weaker in other areas.

Let's start with the cost.

According to The Sun report, Burnley would be set to ask for around £20 million for Pope if Fulham came knocking and this is significant money, even after being promoted to the Premier League.

Although Fulham have not been shy to make investment when promoted to the Premier League before, using up such a significant chunk of their summer budget on a position that isn't a priority may leave their options limited in other areas.

For example, with Tim Ream's contract expiring this summer, and Tosin Adarabioyo attracting interest from West Ham United, the Cottagers look set to have to splash out on at least one, and maybe two, first choice, Premier League quality, centre backs this summer.

Similarly, a right-back is going to be needed this summer, too.

Neco Williams loan expires at the end of the season, and if Fulham want the Welsh international back, they are going to be required to fork out £12 million pounds, according to a recent Football Insider report.

If Fulham spent £20 million on Pope, £12 million on Williams and say, for example, £10-15 million on a centre-back, that is already £40-50 million spent just on improving the defence.

That is more than Brentford and Watford spent on improving their entire squads last summer.

With Marek Rodak more than capable and having done a fine job in the Fulham goal this season, given the factors above, Pope should not be viewed as a priority signing by Fulham this summer.

Though he would be an upgrade on Rodak, they should improve other, more pressing, areas of their squad first, before then assessing whether or not to make a move for the English shot-stopper.

This will certainly be an interesting one to watch this summer if Burnley do end up being relegated.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/opinion-premier-league-goalkeeper-would-be-a-good-fulham-signing-but-should-not-be-a-priority/

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West Ham face competition from Fulham for Alphonse Areola

West Ham's hopes of re-signing goalkeeper Alphonse Areola next season may be scuppered by interest from former club Fulham, 90min understands.

The 29-year-old is on a season-long loan at West Ham but has been unable to dislodge Lukasz Fabianski as the club's number one goalkeeper, and has instead been restricted to appearances in the Europa League and domestic cup competitions.

The Hammers have the option to either re-sign Areola on loan again for 2022/23 or buy him outright from PSG for £11m, while they also hold interest in West Brom goalkeeper Sam Johnstone - who is out of contract in the summer and is on the radar of Manchester United.

However, 90min has learned that although West Ham are considering the signing of Areola, the decision to sign the Frenchman may be taken out of their hands by significant interest from former club Fulham.

The Cottagers are closing in on an immediate return to the Premier League after pulling 14 points clear of third-placed Luton in the Championship, and they have their sights set on taking Areola back to Craven Cottage after a hugely successful loan spell during 2020/21.

Though Fulham were relegated during that campaign, Areola was a standout performer during his time at the club - making 114 saves from 156 shots faced for an overall save percentage of 73.1, the seventh best in the Premier League that season.

He then joined West Ham in July 2021 in the hope of ousting Fabianski as West Ham's number one goalkeeper, but the veteran Pole has performed well throughout the season and Areola has instead been afforded limited opportunities to play - which may influence his decision when it comes to deciding what to do next.

Fabianski is out of contract at West Ham this summer but 90min understands that a new one-year deal has already been agreed, which will extend his stay at London Stadium into a fifth season.

As for Areola, who counts Real Madrid among his former clubs, he recently reminded West Ham's supporters of what he is capable of, making an incredible close-range reflex save from Youssef En-Nesyri in the Europa League last 16.

That stop proved to be pivotal as the Hammers sensationally turned things around six-time winners Sevill to win 2-1 on aggregate, setting up a quarter-final tie with Lyon.



https://www.90min.com/posts/west-ham-competition-fulham-alphonse-areola

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How is ex-Fulham manager Felix Magath getting on at the moment?

Felix Magath, famous for a surprise Bundesliga title win with Wolfsburg, has recently taken the reins at Hertha Berlin.

Hertha have struggled in various attempts to become a European football chasing side in the Bundesliga in recent years, getting through a lot of managers in the process.

Magath, 68, was brought in to try and save Fulham from relegation in 2013/14, but he was unsuccessful and was dismissed after overseeing a very poor start in the Championship the following campaign.

Since then Magath's managerial career has continued to slow down, taking nearly a two year break before managing of Chinese Super League side Shandong Luneng for less than a full season and he only just returned to the hot-seat, stepping into the dugout at Hertha just over two weeks ago.

Despite heavy investment, Hertha have flirted with relegation on a consistent basis in the last few years and 2021/22 is no different, with seven matches remaining they are sat in 16th, the relegation play-off spot, only on goal difference but having played one more than Augsburg just above them.

Magath won his first game, and only so far, in charge 3-0 over Hoffenheim and will be expected to save the Old Lady due to quality of the players at his disposal on paper.

His contract is only until the end of the season, but if the job continues as it started, it would not be a surprise for him to take on another short term contract in the summer, to have one last crack at the big time.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/how-is-ex-fulham-manager-felix-magath-getting-on-at-the-moment/