Friday Fulham Stuff - 15/04/22...

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Jones The Man In The Middle For Derby's Friday Night Clash With Fulham

Robert Jones has been appointed as the Match Referee for Derby County's Sky Bet Championship fixture at home to Fulham on Friday night (8pm kick-off).

Jones has overseen 21 games so far this season in all competitions, showing 69 yellow cards and one red card.

His last Derby match was the 2-0 home win over Barnsley at the start of March.

The Premier League official also took charge of the Rams' 2-1 loss at Barnsley back in November.

Jones will be assisted by Richard Westand Scott Ledger on the lines, whilst Craig Hicks has been appointed as the fourth official.



https://www.dcfc.co.uk/news/2022/04/jones-the-man-in-the-middle-for-derbys-friday-night-clash-with-fulham

[WhiteJC]

Fulham to be backed heavily in the transfer market this summer

Fulham boss Marco Silva will be backed heavily in the transfer market by the club's owners this summer, according to a report by 90min.

Fulham are on the brink of returning to the Premier League and it is expected to be a busy next few months for the London club.

The Cottagers are eager to ensure that they get their recruitment right this time around after their relegation last year.

90min claim they will make a go of it in the next transfer window in preparation for the next campaign.

Fulham to be busy

Fulham are bringing in Manor Solomon from Shakhtar Donetsk to boost their attacking options and he is poised to be the first of many new arrivals.

Losing Fabio Carvalho to Liverpool is a blow for the Cottagers but they will be hoping their pending new arrival can step into his shoes.

Silva was brought in last summer as the man to guide to promotion from the second tier at the first time of asking and the former Hull City, Watford and Everton manager is ever so close to achieving that target now.

Fulham are 10 point clear at the top of the table with just six games left and are 14 points above 3rd place Huddersfield Town having played a match less.

They are back in action tomorrow afternoon against relegation-threatened Derby County away from home before taking on Preston North End at home next Monday.

The London outfit are nearly there now and can start thinking about the summer.



https://the72.co.uk/270330/fulham-to-be-back-heavily-in-the-transfer-market-this-summer/

[WhiteJC]

Manor Solomon, Fulham and Israel's Football Revolution

Manor Solomon has not had the most settled season of his professional career, in and out of the starting line-ups at one of Ukraine's premier clubs – Shakhtar Donetsk – before having to flee the Ukraine after Russian forces invaded the country.

His journey from Kyiv – where Shakhtar and their players have been based since Russia's initial invasion of the Donbas in 2014 – to Poland, and finally back to Israel was keenly followed by many in his homeland.

He was initially reassured that he and his teammates would be safe as recently as February when the club returned from a pre-season tour of Turkey, his representatives saying:

"Manor will return to Kiev together with his club, he is in a quiet area and Shakhtar has given us assurances. He is focusing on soccer. That quiet was broken in the early morning when Solomon woke up to blasts going off all over the Ukrainian capital."

A 15-hour car journey to the border, followed by a 10-hour wait alongside tens of thousands of hours trying to escape the country eventually saw Solomon cross into Poland, before flying back to Israel.

This dramatic escape appears to be the bookend of Solomon's Ukrainian adventure. There is widespread belief that he will be joining Fulham, a side on the cusp of returning to the Premier League for the third time in as many attempts.

For those unfamiliar with Manor Solomon, he is currently being described as a replacement for Fabio Carvalho, another young talent seemingly on the move this summer, following in the footsteps of Harvey Elliott by joining Liverpool when his contract expires. However, during his time at Shakhtar he's mainly been used as a left winger, and is much more likely to provide competition for Neeskens Kebano, who has experienced his best season in a Fulham shirt.

Solomon has recorded a goal or assist every other game this season (0.52 per 90, as per FBRef), while Kebano has slightly edged him with 0.56 (FBRef). Arguably the Ukrainian Premier League is of a slightly higher quality than the English Championship, but they've both been playing in dominant sides within those setups. The main difference is playing time, with Kebano sustaining that attacking output over nearly 1600 minutes this campaign. In contrast, Solomon has only started half the matches he's appeared in during 2021/22. This drop-off in playing time is one of the reasons the Israeli has gone from being linked with Arsenal just over a year ago, to potentially joining a newly-promoted side instead.

Solomon does fit the Kebano mould when looking at some of his key attributes. He has plenty of flair, and enjoys driving at opposition full-backs, and his low centre of gravity makes him hard to stop as an effective dribbler. Solomon is much more right-footed than Kebano and is much more likely to drive inside, whereas Kebano can get to the byline and deliver crosses for Aleksandr Mitrović. He does still need more minutes under his belt to continue improving, something that won't have been helped by the interruption to this season.

It's unlikely Marco Silva will want to completely revolutionise Fulham tactically when they go up, and so this might play into the thinking that Solomon might operate more centrally, a role he primarily plays when he links up with Israel's national team. But his decision making still needs work, something that Carvalho demonstrates an exception ability to do at Fulham, especially for someone his age. But he's imperious on the counter-attack as a quick, direct footballer, and that fast transition might be an extra weapon in Silva's armoury against better sides, given how patient his side can be in the Championship as the dominant force in the division.

ISRAEL'S FUTURE
In the latest international break, Manor Solomon was the youngest member of the senior squad at 22, with only a quarter of the players selected under the age of 25. However, this is not because there's a lack of talent coming through Israel's ranks. Instead, the youth sides were allowed to stick together as they push the traditional powerhouses to qualify for their respective competitions. The under-19s did exactly that, topping their Elite Round group to qualify for the European Championship for only the second time. The under-21s stumbled, drawing with Poland and losing to Germany, but still occupy a play-off spot with two games to go to qualify for their respective Euros having been one of the surprise packages in qualifying so far. They've already beaten Poland away from home in this campaign, done the double over previous hosts Hungary and were minutes away from beating Germany in their first meeting when both sides had a 100% record.

The under-21 side is nearly all still based in Israel, however, these performances would have turned some heads, and there is a player who has created a blueprint for moving to the next level at a young age; Celtic's Liel Abada.

Abada was 19 when he left Maccabi Petah Tikva last summer, a young winger from a mid-table Israeli club joining Scottish giants Celtic. A move that for many would have been overwhelming, and the expectation would have been for Abada to need some bedding in time before making an impact on the first team. But 17 goal involvements in 32 league appearances in his debut season so far for the Bhoys has immediately made him one of the brightest prospects in the league, and it would be no surprise if bids from abroad offered Celtic the chance to make a serious profit after only twelve months in Scotland.

It would not be a surprise to see foreign clubs look towards Hapoel Tel Aviv pair Doron Leidner ('02, LB) and Osher Davida ('01, RW), while Or Blorian (Maccabi Petah Tikva, '00, CB), Gil Cohen (FC Ashdod, '00, CB), Omri Gandelman (Maccabi Netanya, '00, DM) and Ido Shahar (Maccabi Petah Tikva – on loan from Maccabi Tel Aviv, '01, CM) have all had strong campaigns for the under-21 national team.

It feels like an age since Yossi Benayoun, Tal Ben Haim and Eyal Berkovic introduced a generation of English football fans to talents from Israel, but Manor Solomon could be the man to lead the next group of his compatriots to these shores.



https://fromthehalfwayline.com/2022/04/14/manor-solomon-fulham-and-israels-football-revolution/

[WhiteJC]

"Could be a superb signing" – Fulham eye transfer move for Chelsea player: The verdict

This article is part of Football League World's 'The Verdict' series, which provides personal opinions from the FLW writers regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Fulham have been credited with an interest in Chelsea defender Levi Colwill, as per gianlucadimarzio.com.

The report states that the Cottagers will face Premier League competition from the likes of Everton, Leicester City and Southampton for the young defender's services.

Huddersfield Town are also reportedly in the running, with Colwill currently enjoying an excellent temporary spell with the Terriers, however, the Championship outfit's chances of securing his signature once again revolve around them winning promotion.

The 19-year-old has featured 26 times for Carlos Corberan's side this season, proving to be an excellent addition in the summer.

Three of our writers here at FLW have shared their thoughts regarding Fulham's interest in the highly-rated defender...

Adam Jones

He's only going to get better, so this would be a very good signing for the Cottagers.

Considering his lack of experience in the top flight, it can be argued that he isn't the right signing at this present stage for a side who want to establish themselves as a top-tier force for years to come.

However, Colwill will definitely become a top-flight asset in the coming years and this is why the Cottagers should be prepared to make this investment.

Standing out in the Championship, there's no reason why he may not be able to take the step up now and at just 19, Marco Silva's side could potentially sell him on for a lot more than they would pay for him this summer.

Alfie Burns

Colwill could be a superb signing.

The way the Chelsea loanee has taken to playing at the top end of the Championship this season has been superb and, naturally, his parent club are going to want to take a look at what he can do in the Premier League next season.

Huddersfield, should they win promotion through the play-offs, will probably be in the driving seat to secure another agreement. However, that's not guaranteed, which opens the door for a club like Fulham.

Marco Silva's side should secure promotion over Easter and they can already start putting in he groundwork for summer signings whilst others focus on the play-offs.

Colwill would be a good fit for them given the ageing pool of a couple of their centre-back options heading back into the top-flight.

The 19-year-old is a progressive, ball-playing centre-back, who also has a good physical presence.

He could be great to slot in alongside Tosin Adarabioyo for a season in the Fulham defence.

Simmey Hannifin-Donaldson

Levi Colwill has impressed on loan at Huddersfield Town this campaign and if recent reports are to be believed, there is plenty of interest in the 19 year old heading into the summer.

It is only a matter of time until Fulham's Premier League promotion is confirmed and so it is natural they are looking at ways to improve their squad ahead of the summer.

Colwill would be a good signing for the Cottagers too. With Tim Ream's contract up in the summer and reported interest in Tosin Adarabioyo, there appears to be the need for at least one centre half at Craven Cottage.

Colwill is obviously unproven at Premier League level, but this could be a smart signing by Fulham because the 19 year old, if not ready for the step up to the top flight immediately, will no doubt be ready in the future.

It could be a smart investment from the Cottagers, in that sense.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/could-be-a-superb-signing-fulham-eye-transfer-move-for-chelsea-player-the-verdict/

[WhiteJC]

'Move to Fulham': Chairman claims Silva offered £15m for exciting forward

Fulham will Shakhtar Donetsk winger Manor Solomon for £10 million less than the few they were willing to pay during the January transfer window, the winger's former Maccabi Petah Tikva chairman tells One.

We're not even cracking open our Easter Eggs yet but Fulham are already on the verge of completing their first signing of the summer. Fail to prepare, prepare to fail after all.

Solomon, a one-time Manchester City target who earned comparisons with Eden Hazard after scoring twice against Real Madrid in the Champions League a couple of years ago, will fill a Fabio Carvalho-shaped hole in Marco Silva's frontline at Craven Cottage.

The 22-year-old is set to sign a £25,000-a-week contract until 2027. And it is understood that Fulham will pay just £5 million, with Israeli publication One claiming that the Championship leaders have agreed a knock-down fee after Shakhtar slashed Solomon's price-tag following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Fulham's gain, however, with be Petah Tikvah's loss. Financially speaking, anyway.

Fabio Carvalho's replacement

Solomon started his career at the Israel giants before moving to Shakhtar in 2019. And a £5 million move to Craven Cottage – rather than a £15 million one – means Petah Tikvah will miss out on a substantial cash windfall via a sell-on clause in Solomon's contract.

"Maccabi Petah Tikva will lose over 1.5 million euros from (Solomon's) move to Fulham," says chairman Avi Luzon. 

"In January, Shakhtar had an offer from Fulham for 18 million euros (£15 million). 

"If they had sold him for that amount in January, and not as Fulham would pay now, then we would have had over a million and a half euros. Fulham benefited, took advantage of the situation in Ukraine."

Preparing for life in the Premier League for the third time in the last four years, Fulham will once again spend big in the summer with Solomon the first of many new faces.

The Cottagers also want Internacional winger Caio Vidal and former West Ham youngster Josh Cullen. Alphonse Areola could also make a return to West London.



https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2022/04/14/move-to-fulham-chairman-claims-silva-offered-15m-for-exciting-forward/

[WhiteJC]

Should Fulham re-ignite their transfer interest in Blackpool's Josh Bowler in the summer?

It's not confirmed quite yet but Fulham will be preparing for life in the Premier League this summer.

The west London club are on course to bounce back up to the top flight at the first time of asking and claim the Championship title en route.

That should give them some more cash to spend in the summer window, which may see them return to some former targets.

Blackpool winger Josh Bowler is on that list as TEAMtalk reported in January that they were battling Nottingham Forest in the race for the winger – thought to be valued at around £1.5 million at the time.

The 23-year-old is out of contract this summer but his club do have a 12-month option and will surely trigger it.

Even so, it looks like a good window to sign the winger but it's not a move that should be high up on Fulham's list of priorities.

Bowler has shown his quality since leaving Everton to move to Bloomfield Road in the summer – scoring eight times and providing three assists – and he looks like a player with all the raw attributes to have a bright future ahead but it just doesn't seem the right time to move to Craven Cottage.

Fulham's main aim in the summer needs to be signing players that can help them stay in the Premier League and on the basis of one impressive Championship season, it's hard to say that the winger is ready to be that just yet.

You wouldn't bet against him reaching the top flight in the future but the second tier seems the right place for him at the moment.

It's true that Fabio Carvalho is set to join Liverpool but, according to Daily Mail, the Whites have already lined up a replacement in Shakhtar Donetsk winger Manor Solomon and are close to agreeing a deal for him.

Marco Silva is hardly short of attacking talent either with the likes of Harry Wilson, Bobby De Cordova Reid, and Neeskens Kebano in the squad.

As a long-term signing that could be loaned away for next season, Bowler could make sense as a summer target but that should not be their priority in the upcoming window.

It seems a little too early for him to make the step up to the Premier League and that's exactly where Fulham are headed.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/should-fulham-re-ignite-their-transfer-interest-in-blackpools-josh-bowler-in-the-summer/

[WhiteJC]

Who is Manor Solomon?
Jack Stroudley takes a look at our widely-reported first summer signing.

It's normally quite rare to have concrete transfer news reported in April, but that is the situation we currently find ourselves in. John Percy was the first to report on Israeli winger Manor Solomon's deal to Fulham being near completion, this news has now speculated around differing media sources, including Israeli news outlet Ynet.

The latter source has claimed that Solomon will sign a long-term deal in the range of four-to-five years and will earn around £25,000 a week, with Fulham paying a fee of around £7 million. Marco Silva has allegedly been a prominent figure in the negotiations of this deal. I figured I would head online and delve into the Israeli international more as a player to answer the question. Who is Manor Solomon?

The fact file
Solomon is aged 22 and spent the majority of his childhood in the Maccabi Petah Tikva academy from 2008 to 2016 before making his professional debut in November 2016 during a 2-1 defeat to Hapoel Haifa. Solomon continued to play regular football for the side in Israel's top division and scored eight times during his 68 appearances for the club. As well as this, he continued to develop through the Israeli national team ranks from U16 all the way up to the first team where he made his debut in a 1-0 defeat to Albania in July 2018.

Solomon's progression at Maccabi Petah Tikya saw him move to Ukrainian giants Shakhtar Donetsk going for £5.4 million, according to Transfermarkt. Solomon has featured regularly for Shakhtar since his arrival making his debut in a 2-0 victory over FK Oleksandriya. Solomon impressed for both club and country and particularly shone in the UEFA Champions League. He got his first Champions League goal in a 2-1 victory over Atalanta making him the youngest Israeli to ever score in the Champions League.

He has continued this vein of form in the competition picking up goals against the likes of Manchester City and Real Madrid, resulting in interest from clubs like Manchester City and Arsenal. While playing for Shakhtar Donetsk, the 22-year-old has scored 16 goals in 70 games and has been involved in winning two league titles, one cup and one super cup. All of this has led to Marco Silva's interest and the signing which now seems imminent.

Where will he play?
I won't sit here and claim to be the biggest expert on Ukrainian football! Fortunately, in a world of Twitter and various other websites you're able to get a pretty good idea of a player and how he would benefit Fulham. Firstly, when the news broke yesterday 'International Football Consultant' Raphael Gellar took to twitter to see if any Fulham fans had questions in regards to the Israeli international. As you can imagine, he got quite a large number of responses, of which I have sifted through and compiled a list of the key points Gellar makes about Manor Solomon.

    He's a dynamic and fantastic dribbler
    He's small in size but very strong
    Excellent football IQ and excellent movement off the ball
    He could be the best dribbler Israel has ever had
    He needs to improve his G/A tally but the goals he does score are fantastic
    He's a big-time player
    For £7-8 million he is the best you can get in the EPL market.

Looking at all of the above it's clear that Fulham fans would have every right to get excited about this potential signing, but where would he play? Several media outlets have claimed that Manor Solomon will be a direct replacement for Fabio Carvalho in the number 10 position. However, when looking into where he plays on the pitch this is simply not true.

This season alone, Solomon has played 24 of his 26 games for Shakhtar Donetsk on the left wing with only one feature in that number 10 role. Last season Solomon started 23 times on the left wing and only twice in the middle.

Fulhamish's very own football encyclopaedia Jack Collins took to twitter to state that 'Solomon would come in to play LW rather than in the 10 in a Marco Silva side' and I can't help but agree. This to me seems like we would be getting a Neeskens Kebano replacement for a cut throat price (according to Transfermarkt he is worth £16.2 million.)

Yes or no?
To conclude, do I think Manor Solomon would be a good signing for Fulham? Yes! While we score goals at will this season, I fear that next season some of the creativity we get from that left hand side may be nullified due to the increased quality in defenders we would come up against and a signing like Manor Solomon seems like the type of player we should be approaching. The type of player who could grab the game by the scruff of the neck and create something out of nothing for himself or other attacking options like Mitrovic.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2022-04-14-who-is-manor-solomon/

[WhiteJC]

Nottingham Forest and Fulham handed potential boost in pursuit of £5m Championship ace

Blackpool could look to offload Josh Bowler this summer if he doesn't pen a long-term contract with the club.

Bowler sees his Blackpool contract expire at the end of the season. But the Seasiders have the option of extending his stay by a further year and they're expected to trigger that option, with interest emerging from the likes of Nottingham Forest, Fulham, Bournemouth and more.

This season, Bowler has emerged as one of the Championship's best wide players – signed on a free last summer, the former Everton man has scored seven and assisted three in his 40 league appearances for Neil Critchley's side so far this season.

Reports emerged earlier in the month backing Nottingham Forest to reignite their interest in Bowler after failing to sign the Englishman in January.

Though Steve Cooper's side faces competition from a number of Premier League teams, as well as Fulham and Bournemouth, with Blackpool supposedly slapping a £5million price tag on the player.

Now though, LancsLive reports John McDougall has shared the latest on Bowler's situation at Blackpool, suggesting that the club might sell him in the summer if he doesn't pen a long-term contract with the club.

He writes:

"Bowler would be seen as a priority to sign to a longer term deal, but if that does not come to pass, then it would be expected that he could leave if Blackpool are faced with the prospect of him walking away for nothing in the summer of 2023."

Stand-off...

Expect Blackpool to trigger Bowler's one-year option in good time. It'll give them the chance to evaluate the situation and try to tie Bowler down to a new, long-term contract at the club.

He's a good player and a young one too, so it's understandable why Blackpool would want to do that. But with so much interest in him, and from the Premier League too, it might be understandable why Bowler would want to refuse a long-term offer.

He's been bitten by a premature Premier League move already in his career. Whether he's better placed for a move now remains to be seen, and what his stance on another season with Blackpool would be remains likewise.



https://the72.co.uk/270354/270354/

[WhiteJC]

EFL Awards 2022: Shortlists revealed

Aleksandar Mitrovic, Harry Wilson and Dominic Solanke are in the running to be named Sky Bet Championship Player of the Season at the 2022 EFL Awards.

Taking place on Sunday 24 April, winners will be announced at the star-studded EFL Awards taking place at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane.   

Mitrovic's remarkable 38 goals have fired Fulham to the top of the Championship. The Serbian has been assisted regularly by team-mate and Welsh wizard Wilson who has racked up double figures for goals and assists to lead Fulham's charge for promotion. Leading the line with his speed, strength and intelligence, Bournemouth's Solanke has 24 Championship goals to his name and is also a contender.

In Sky Bet League One, midfielders Scott Twine and Barry Bannan are up against Rotherham United striker Michael Smith for the Sky Bet Player of the Season award. Twine's 15 goals and 12 assist have helped MK Dons' promotion push. The ability and experience of Sheffield Wednesday's Bannan has shone through all season with an array of match-winning performances. Smith has been a consistent top performer for Rotherham United with 18 goals to his name.

In Sky Bet League Two, Forest Green Rovers have two players in contention in Kane Wilson and Matty Stevens, whilst Newport County's goalscoring machine Dominic Telford completes the list. Wilson has combined his dribbling ability and pinpoint crossing to the tune of 13 assists whilst Steven's goals have been a key factor in Forest Green's excellent season. Telford scored 22 goals in 19 games in a wonderful four-month stretch.

The EFL Young Player of the Season Awards will be given out divisionally for the first time to recognise the best young talent in the League. In the Championship, Nottingham Forest duo Brennan Johnson and Djed Spence are up against Fulham's Fabio Carvalho.

In League One, Portsmouth's shot stopper Gavin Bazunu makes the list. Dan Neil of Sunderland and Paddy Lane of Fleetwood Town - who signed in the summer from Hyde United four tiers below the Cod Army - will also be vying for the accolade.

Two defensive players make the shortlist in League Two, Bristol Rovers' Connor Taylor and Shadrach Ogie of Leyton Orient. Newport County's Finn Azaz is also nominated.

The Football Manager Teams of the Season will be announced on the night with a manager and starting XI chosen for each individual division.

Clubs will also be commended for their work off the pitch, with the Your Move Community Club of the Season set to be announced alongside the Community Project of the Season and PFA Player in the Community.

New for 2022 the EFL will also be presenting Diversity and Sustainability Awards alongside the Kin + Carta Family Club of the Season and Supporter of the Season.

The League's two most prestigious awards, the Contribution to League Football and Sir Tom Finney Award, will be given out on the night.

Awarded to recipients who have had an outstanding career and contributed exceptionally to the EFL, previous winners include Kevin Phillips, Rickie Lambert and Joe Thompson.

EFL Awards 2022 shortlist:

Sky Bet Championship Player of the Season
Aleksandar Mitrovic – Fulham
Dominic Solanke – Bournemouth
Harry Wilson – Fulham

Sky Bet League One Player of the Season
Barry Bannan – Sheffield Wednesday
Michael Smith – Rotherham United
Scott Twine – Milton Keynes Dons

Sky Bet League Two Player of the Season
Matty Stevens – Forest Green Rovers
Dominic Telford – Newport County
Kane Wilson – Forest Green Rovers

Championship Young Player of the Season
Fabio Carvalho – Fulham
Brennan Johnson – Nottingham Forest
Djed Spence – Nottingham Forest

League One Young Player of the Season
Gavin Bazunu – Portsmouth
Paddy Lane – Fleetwood Town
Dan Neil – AFC Sunderland

League Two Young Player of the Season
Finn Azaz – Newport County
Shadrach Ogie – Leyton Orient
Connor Taylor – Bristol Rovers

LFE Apprentice of the Season – Championship
Ryan Howley – Coventry City
Jordan James – Birmingham City
Jevon Mills – Hull City

LFE Apprentice of the Season – League One
Freddie Draper – Lincoln City
Ayodeji Elerewe – Charlton Athletic
Michael Williams – Crewe Alexandra

LFE Apprentice of the Season – League Two
Alex Aitken – Stevenage
Junior Tchamadeu – Colchester United
Ethan Brierley – Rochdale

Football Manager Teams of the Season
To be announced on the night

Your Move Community Club of the Season
Middlesborough – North East & Yorkshire
Blackpool - North West
Derby County – Midlands
AFC Wimbledon – London
Plymouth Argyle – South West & Wales
Milton Keynes Dons - South East & East

One overall winner will be announced on the night

Community Project of the Season
Championship – Preston North End
League One – Burton Albion
League Two – Swindon Town

PFA Players in the Community
Championship – Billy Mitchell, Millwall
League One – Ryan Inniss, Charlton Athletic
League Two – Omar Beckles, Leyton Orient

Kin + Carta Family Club of the Season
Ipswich Town
Milton Keynes Dons
Sheffield United

Diversity Award
Blackburn Rovers
Exeter City
Preston North End

Environmental Sustainability Award
To be announced on the night

Supporter of the Season
Mark Crowther – Luton Town
Cath Dyer – Swansea City
Sue Taylor – Burton Albion

Sir Tom Finney Award
To be announced on the night

Contribution to League Football
To be announced on the night

2022 Goal of the Season
To be announced on the night



https://www.efl.com/news/2022/april/efl-awards-2022-shortlists-revealed/

[WhiteJC]

Mitro, Harry & Fab Shortlisted

Aleksandar Mitrović, Harry Wilson and Fabio Carvalho have been shortlisted at the upcoming 2022 EFL Awards.

Mitrović and Wilson are among the nominees for Sky Bet Championship Player of the Season, whereas Carvalho is up for Young Player.

All three have enjoyed prolific seasons, contributing an astonishing 87 goal involvements between them; Mitrović (38G, 7A), Wilson (11G, 16A), Carvalho (8G, 7A).

Mitro and Harry face competition from AFC Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke, while Carvalho finds himself up against Nottingham Forest pair Brennan Johnson and Djed Spence.

The Player and Young Player of the Season will be announced at the awards ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel on Sunday 24th April.



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2022/april/14/mitro-harry-fab-shortlisted/

[WhiteJC]

All the early Derby County team news ahead of Fulham clash on Friday

Derby County face yet another crucial clash in their bid for survival on Friday when they host Championship leaders Fulham at Pride Park.

The Rams are running out of games to make their unlikely survival challenge a reality, currently sitting 23rd in the Championship standings – nine points behind Reading and safety.

With just five games to play, every point is absolutely crucial at this stage.

Fulham, their opponents, are having very different fortunes in the league this season.

The Cottagers are well clear at the top of the table and it is surely a case of when they are promoted, and not if, at this stage, with the club 14 points clear of third placed Huddersfield Town.

With all that being said, here is the early Derby County team news facing boss Wayne Rooney ahead of the clash.

Latest team news

We already know that the Rams are set to be without Colin Kazim-Richards for the rest of the season, so he will miss the fixture.

However, it appears, as far as we know at this stage, that Rams boss Wayne Rooney faces no fresh injury concerns after their last match versus Swansea City.

With that being said, Rooney must carefully consider any changes he could make to help his side against Fulham, particularly with two games to play over the weekend.

This may well lead to some rotation in the Derby XI, with the likes of Festy Ebosele, Craig Forsyth, and Jason Knight all pushing for a place in the starting line-up.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/all-the-early-derby-county-team-news-ahead-of-fulham-clash-on-friday/

[WhiteJC]

3 Fulham players who could be loaned out in the summer transfer window

Fulham will be looking to move one step closer to securing an immediate return to the Premier League tomorrow when they face Derby County.

The Cottagers are 14 points clear of Huddersfield Town who currently occupy third-place in the second-tier standings and thus could potentially seal promotion in their upcoming fixtures.

Although Fulham manager Marco Silva is currently able to call upon the services of some classy operators, he may decide to make some significant changes to his squad ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

As well as adding fresh faces to his team in the upcoming window, the 44-year-old could opt to sanction some temporary exits for some of the club's younger players.

Keeping this in mind, we have decided to take a look at three Fulham players who could be loaned out in the summer...

Jay Stansfield
Jay Stansfield has been limited to just two appearances at senior level for Fulham this season due to the presence of Aleksandar Mitrovic and Rodrigo Muniz.

The forward showed glimpses of his talent in the League Cup in August as he scored for the Cottagers in their 1-0 victory over Birmingham City.

Having provided seven direct goal contributions in the Premier League 2 Division 2 for Fulham's Under-23 side during the current campaign, it could be argued that a loan move to a team in a lower division this summer could potentially do wonders for Stansfield's development.

Marlon Fossey
Marlon Fossey was granted a temporary exit from Fulham in the January transfer window as he joined League One side Bolton Wanderers.

Before having his spell curtailed by injury, the defender produced some impressive performances for the Trotters as he provided five assists in 15 league appearances.

Having demonstrated that he is capable of delivering the goods on a consistent basis in the third-tier by averaging a WhoScored match rating of 7.20 at this level, it wouldn't be at all surprising if Fulham opt to loan him out again to a team in this particular division ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

Timmy Abraham
Timmy Abraham was loaned out to Newport County by Fulham during the previous summer transfer window.

During his time in Wales, the forward has ultimately failed to make a positive impression for the Exiles as he has only scored three goals in 17 appearances in all competitions.

Set to return to Fulham in May, the Cottagers may attempt to kick-start the 21-year-old's senior career by sanctioning another loan move for him.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/3-fulham-players-who-could-be-loaned-out-in-the-summer-transfer-window/

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Silva calls for focus as Fulham look to seal promotion

Fulham boss Marco Silva admits last Sunday's shock 3-1 loss at home to Coventry was a reminder to his squad to not get ahead of themselves with promotion all but secured.

Silva's side can book an immediate return to the Premier League with wins at Derby and at home to Preston but the Portuguese said defeat by the Sky Blues was proof that nothing should be taken for granted.

"My players know we don't have just one goal in mind, we have more than one – the main thing is to get promoted, to be champions and finish at the top," Silva said.

"But we have to keep our feet on the ground, not lose focus or concentration. The last game was a good example that we cannot lose one second of focus.

"If you do, what happened last Sunday against Coventry can happen again and we don't want that.

"I am not saying we were not focused on that game, but we made mistakes that are not normal at this level and the level we have been playing at this season.

"We have a big match coming up at Derby and we know what we have to do."

Derby are still nine points from safety, having been docked 21 points earlier in the season.

And Silva, who managed Rams boss Wayne Rooney at Everton, said he has been impressed with the way the former England striker has kept his side competitive despite the financial uncertainty hanging over the club.

"I know how difficult it has been for them. They have shown a togetherness and team spirit which has been fantastic," he said.

"If you take away the fact they lost 21 points they would be more comfortable on the table and having a really good season.

"They play with a lot of courage and have a good mix of young players and experienced older players like Curtis Davies, Tom Lawrence and Ravel Morrison and Wayne is doing a good job and when they are at home they are really hard to play against."



https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/silva-calls-for-focus-as-fulham-look-to-seal-promotion

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'Operation is already planned' – Club have money ready to sign Fulham player, will pay 'in their own time'

Fulham's relegation from the Premier League forced André-Frank Zambo Anguissa to look for a new destination in the summer of 2021.

Towards the end of that window, Napoli took the midfielder on a loan deal with an option to buy. He has impressed for the Serie A side and his fine displays convinced them to retain him beyond this campaign.

The Fulham owned player missed the Naples club's last tie against Fiorentina due to suspension. Luciano Spalletti's side suffered a 3-2 defeat and the loss meant they couldn't climb to the top of the table.

Napoli will take on AS Roma in the next tie and the Cameroon international's return to the lineup could give them a welcome boost. As said in the past, Corriere dello Sport on Thursday again stress the Cottagers will receive €15m if the buying option is exercised.

The report states the 'operation is already planned' as the Serie A side have the funds ready to buy Anguissa in the summer. This will see the Championship side earn €15m in the process.

It's further explained Napoli plan to pay this fee to Fulham 'in their own time', but it will get done.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/operation-is-already-planned-club-have-money-at-the-ready-to-sign-fulham-player-will-pay-in-their-own-time/

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Silva seeks Fulham focus

Marco Silva has called for his Fulham side to be fully focused on getting all three points at Derby on Friday night as the Whites look to wrap up promotion to the Premier League.

A shock 3-1 defeat at home to Coventry City last Sunday means Silva's side will need other results to go for them if they are to make mathematically certain of an immediate return to the top flight with a win at Derby tomorrow night, but the Portuguese head coach believes the slip-up against the Sky Blues served as a good reminder that nothing can be taken for granted.

Silva told his pre-match press conference this morning:

"My players know we don't have just one goal in mind, we have more than one – the main thing is to get promoted, to be champions and finish at the top. But we have to keep our feet on the ground, not lose focus or concentration. The last game was a good example that we cannot lose one second of focus.

If you do, what happened last Sunday against Coventry can happen again and we don't want that. I am not saying we were not focused on that game, but we made mistakes that are not normal at this level and the level we have been playing at this season. We have a big match coming up at Derby and we know what we have to do."

Silva knows that the Good Friday trip to Pride Park will be far from straightforward, especially as the Rams have only lost three home league fixtures all season.

"Derby is a really tough side to play, it doesn't matter what position they are. We know why they are in that position, the deduction of points made a big impact on Derby. It's been a really tough season for them. It's really tough when you are doing your job on the pitch but then you look at the table and you're in a really tough position because of the deduction of the points.

But they have shown togetherness and team spirit. If they had the 21 points that were taken from them, they would be really comfortable in the table, they would be having a really good season. hey have a good mix between young lads who are hungry to play football, and experienced players like Curtis, [Tom] Lawrence, [Ravel] Morrison. They play with a lot of courage as well.

Wayne is doing a good job, and when they play at home it's been tough for all the teams they've played so far. They have achieved good results at home and, for sure, it will be a tough game for us. Normally it's a tough place to play because the crowd is always behind them, supporting them, even in this tough period, and it will be tough for us."



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2022/04/silva-seeks-fulham-focus/

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The 8 players that will leave Fulham on a free this summer unless contracts are renewed

Edging closer to an immediate return to the Premier League, Fulham will be hoping to secure promotion sooner rather than later and avoid any dramas.

Sitting 10 points above Bournemouth in second place, and 14 points ahead of Huddersfield Town in third, it appears to be a matter of when rather than if.

Here, we take a look at the Fulham players who will leave on a free this summer unless contracts are renewed...

Tim Ream

Tim Ream has started every single game for the Cottagers this season, with the left-footed central defender establishing an excellent partnership with Tosin Adarabioyo.

The 34-year-old has featured 250 times for the Cottagers since his 2015 arrival from Bolton Wanderers, proving to be a consistent and dependable figure within the backline.

Neeskens Kebano

Neeskens Kebano has been an excellent creator of chances this season, with his lightning pace and trickery causing all sorts of chaos for opposing defenders.

The winger has nine goals and six assists for the Whites this season, featuring 35 times in the Championship.

Steven Sessegnon

Steven Sessegnon has featured 14 times for the Whites since his 2017 debut, however, his time at Craven Cottage could come to an end in the summer.

Currently on loan at Plymouth Argyle, the full-back has featured six times for the promotion-chasing Pilgrims.

Tyrese Francois

Tyrse Francois has been restricted has been restricted to two appearances this season, which were the first two games of the campaign.

The central midfielder has since been confined to primarily featuring for the club's U23s, with the Whites possessing an abundance of talent in midfield positions.

Fabri

Fabri finds himself well down in the pecking order when it comes to Fulham's goalkeeping options, and when considering the Cottagers have been linked with a couple of goalkeepers in recent weeks, he is almost certain to depart.

In four years with the Whites, Fabri has featured just twice.

Michael Hector

Michael Hector has been confined to just three Championship starts this season, filling in when Tosin Adarabioyo was suspended.

Given the evident quality he possesses, it will have been a frustrating few months for the central defender.

Hector has featured 39 times in nearly three years with the Championship outfit.

Alfie Mawson

Similarly, Alife Mawson has seen his first-team opportunities severely restricted this season, as a result of the continued excellence of Adarabioyo and Ream.

Mawson did attract some interest in January, and with Fulham set for the Premier League, it will be no surprise to see him agree fresh terms with a Championship club in the summer.

Jean Michael Seri

Playing a large enough role in Fulham's season, Jean Michael Seri has featured 27 times, however, he has seen his game time decrease in more recent weeks.

Arriving in 2018 for a sizeable fee, Seri has not been influential as his £27 million price tag would have suggested.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/the-8-players-that-will-leave-fulham-on-a-free-this-summer-unless-contracts-are-renewed/

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Mitrovic and Wilson on player of the season shortlist

Fulham pair Aleksandar Mitrovic and Harry Wilson have been shortlisted for the Championship's player of the season award.

Mitrovic has scored a staggering 38 goals as Marco Silva's side have stormed to the top of the table, whilst Wilson has enjoyed an outstanding first Craven Cottage campaign, contributed eleven goals and sixteen assists since making the move from Liverpool last summer. Bournemouth forward Dominic Solanke completes the set of nominees for the EFL's showpiece award at their end of season ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel on 24 April.

Attacking midfielder Fabio Carvalho, who has scored eight goals and added seven assists, has been nominated for the young player of the year award after a superb season. He will be up against Nottingham Forest's Brenan Johnson and former Fulham full back Djed Spence in the youth category.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2022/04/mitrovic-and-wilson-on-player-of-the-season-shortlist/

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Derby County team news and predicted XI to face Fulham

Derby County are hoping to boost their slim survival chances on Good Friday as they face league leaders Fulham in the late kick-off on Sky Sports.

Everyone knew the task faced by Wayne Rooney and Derby County would be tough due to their 21-point deduction. However, they have fought valiantly to keep them in with a shout of safety, but now, sadly for their fans, they appear to be League One bound.

Rooney's team are nine points off 21st place Reading, with their number of games running out.

The players have battled well against relegation and Rooney will take many positives from this season – they will need all their resilience when they face Premier League-bound Fulham.
Derby County team news

Max Bird is serving the second game of his three-game suspension for a red card received at Preston North End.

Derby County have no new injuries to report, giving Rooney the freedom to make personnel or system changes if he wishes, with Irish stars Jason Knight and Festy Ebosele both named on the bench against Swansea City last time out.

Predicted XI

Allsop (GK)

Byrne

Cashin

Davies

Buchanan

Bielik

Knight

Ebiowei

Lawrence

Ebosele

Morrison

Uphill battle...

Since their point deduction of 21 points last year, Derby County have faced an uphill battle. They have fought well all season, and despite interest in Rooney, he has stayed loyal to the team that gave him the chance to step into management.

These final few games offer Derby County a chance to put on good performances for their fans, who have had the season from hell with the off-field issues.

It will be a tough game for Rooney's men – which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports at 8pm on Friday night.



https://the72.co.uk/270390/derby-county-team-news-and-predicted-xi-to-face-fulham/

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Fulham team news and predicted XI to face Derby County

Fulham will be looking to avoid another shock defeat in the league this Good Friday as they face struggling Derby County.

Their defeat against Coventry City on Sunday came as a shock to many people, putting a delay on Fulham's seemingly inevitable return to the Premier League. Marco Silva will be determined to get his back to winning ways to avoid any potential banana skins in their quest to win the Championship this season.

Derby County will offer up a tough task for Fulham. They are a side fighting to keep for their lives in the Championship – though time is running out for Wayne Rooney's men to pull off the impossible.
Fulham team news

The Easter holiday fixtures can lead to managers making squad changes due to the quick turnaround in fixtures they face – Silva will be faced with the same selection dilemmas.

Despite the negative result on Sunday, Fulham came out of the game with no new injuries ahead of the Easter doubleheader, giving the Portuguese boss the freedom to make some changes if he wishes.

Predicted XI

Rodak (GK)

Williams

Hector

Ream

Robinson

Seri

Reed

Wilson

Carvalho

Cordova-Reid

Mitrovic

Champions-elect...

Fulham have been sat comfortably at the top of the table for some time now, and they look likely to claim the title and return to the Premier League next season.

Their upcoming fixtures against Derby County and Preston North End are both important, but their clash on April 23rd against 2nd place Bournemouth will be a mouth-watering game. If results go their way, that game against Bournemouth could be the one that sees them win the title.

However, Silva's men will be fully focused on their clash with the Rams this Friday, which you can watch live on Sky Sports at 20:00.



https://the72.co.uk/270207/fulham-team-news-and-predicted-xi-to-face-derby-county-2/