Sunday Fulham Stuff - 17/04/22...

[WhiteJC]

Silva seethes as Fulham concede 'soft goals'

Marco Silva couldn't hide his irritation after Fulham slumped to back-to-back league defeats for the first time in his Craven Cottage tenure by being beaten at Derby County last night.

The league leaders threw away the opportunity to clinch promotion from the Championship following Fabio Carvalho's fabulously taken opener at Pride Park as they failed to match Derby's intensity in a second half surrender. Luke Plange equalised from close range before Tosin Adarabioyo's own goal proved decisive – with Wayne Rooney's side securing a precious three points.

Silva told his post-match press conference that his team were sloppy after the interval and conceded 'soft goals'.

"We are too soft in the goals we conceded to be honest. In the last two games we have conceded five goals that we will have to analyse and improve on because if you want to win football matches you have to be really solid as a team and in the two matches, we haven't been."

After the match, I congratulated Derby because the three points, they got it. A fantastic atmosphere they created in their stadium. Fantastic for a team that are in a tough position with everything that has happened with them this season. I recognise their quality."

"It was two completely different halves. [After] the last home defeat, I expected a result from ourselves and we did it in the first half. The way we started the game, the way we controlled the game, the way we created chances, I think it's a very good example of the way we prepared the game. It's good to see when things happen on a match day.

We had some more chances in the second half to score a second goal to probably kill the game or create a different scenario for ourselves. We made a mistake, which was really tough at the level we are. In the one moment you decided to jump to press the goalkeeper and after they beat the pressure we had to kill the moment or win the ball or make a tactical foul. It was too easy the way they beat the pressure in that moment and they equalised."

We fought back after the goal and created chances to swing the game in our favour but it just wasn't meant to be on the night. We had the better chances, the most chances to win the game definitely. I think we have this obligation as well because we are top of the league for a reason and we had more chances, more shots, everything was more from ourselves but we lost the focus in three or four moments in the second half and they punished us."



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2022/04/silva-seethes-as-fulham-concede-soft-goals/

[WhiteJC]

Bryan philosophical following Derby defeat

Joe Bryan admitted Fulham were disappointed with the way they let a chance to clinch promotion slip away at Derby tonight but urged his team-mates not to get too down.

It looked as if the Championship leaders could seal an immediate return back to the top flight when Fabio Carvalho stroked them ahead on the twenty minute mark, but Marco Silva's side were overwhelmed by a revitalised Derby after the break with Luke Plange and a Tosin Adarabioyo own goal gives the Rams a vital victory in their battle against the drop.

Bryan told FFCTV after the final whistle:

"A tough result – ultimately we wanted to win, but we can't get too down. Derby played very, very well, they were right up for it and they outfought us so fair play to them. The beauty of the Championship is we've got another game on Tuesday so we can regroup and go again.

"It was a tough battle. The boy I was playing against was a young boy but he's done very well and he gave me a tough evening. It was a feisty game, it makes me play better.

The former Bristol City left back is pleased to be back involved in the first team following a tough spell out of the side.

"I had a tough period where I wasn't really involved and I was training in a small group and away from the squad on a matchday. I'm a professional, I work hard and I got myself back into a position where I was fit. I've done well in training and the manager's rewarded me with some games. I think I've given a good account of myself. I might not always do the best, but I do try."



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2022/04/bryan-philosophical-following-derby-defeat/

[WhiteJC]

Kieron Bowie's amazing Fulham rise aided by return to Kirkcaldy as ex-Raith Rovers star discusses Scotland and Mitrovic

The 19-year-old moved to the London side from Raith Rovers for a six-figure fee in 2019


Kieron Bowie is thriving at Fulham after his move from Raith Rovers (Image: Robert Sambles/Focus Images Ltd)

There's quite the contrast from the coastal town of Kirkcaldy to the buzzing metropolis, that is London.

When Kieron Bowie swapped the Kingdom of Fife for the Big Smoke, it was an eye-opening transition for the gifted footballer.

Bowie burst onto the scene at Raith Rovers at just 16 and a string of hugely impressive displays attracted the interest of some top teams.

Fulham won the race for the 17-year-old in February 2020 and Bowie's development at the West London club's prestigious academy has been outstanding.

Now 19, Bowie has played an instrumental role in consecutive title triumphs but after a difficult adaptation to moving down south, the catalyst for his rise was some brilliant man-management.

"I didn't score a goal in the first six months," Bowie told Football Scotland in an exclusive interview. "I was literally terrible, I don't know what was going on but it just took me a period of time to adapt.

"The coaches actually let me go home for a while because they knew that I wasn't playing at my best.

"It was around Christmas time so I had an extended break and I came back fully refreshed and determined.

"I really kicked on after that and started to score goals. Every goal that I scored that season came after the break!

"Steve Wigley was my coach and he's really well-respected down here.

"He knows every player, what they need and you can always go and speak to him if you're not feeling great.

"The difference is so drastic. The amount of people in London compared to Kirkcaldy is just mind blowing - there's just so many people.

"At home, you know loads of people and it's the total opposite down here."

Fulham's understanding of Bowie's situation paid dividends as the versatile attacker netted 15 goals in 20 games as they clinched Under-18 Premier League South title with a 3-0 win over Chelsea in May 2021.

This season, Bowie helped the Lily Whites win the Under-23 Premier League 2 and the talented youngster is grateful to be within such a prestigious youth set-up.

He explained: "Other clubs have the big names but I feel that Fulham are one of the top academies in England.

"We've got some top players but we go under the radar sometimes because we aren't the biggest name.

"Fulham have been between the Premiership and Championship whereas Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea get most of the limelight.


Bowie is playing at one of the best youth academies in England (Image: Robert Sambles/Focus Images Ltd)

"I had other options before I joined Fulham. But I decided to come here because they actually really wanted me.

"They spoke to my agent for two hours and they were asking all about me."

Bowie is a supremely talented young attacker and he possesses the skillset to play in a variety of roles.

He played in wider roles, or as a number 10, at the start of the season but shifted to his preferred centre-forward position, after Terry Ablade joined Wimbledon on-loan.

Quick, technically accomplished and intelligent, Bowie towers over opponents at 6'3" and he's learned to use his physicality to his advantage.

He added: "When I was at Raith, I usually played on the right because we had some really good strikers.

"I actually really enjoyed it because I got loads of the ball and they wanted me to express myself.

"We had players - Reegan Hendry, Lewis Vaughan, Dylan Tait - who were as good, technically, as the players down here.

"Technically, the level is really high down here. But in terms of physicality, I'd already experienced first-team football.

"I probably didn't use my physicality as much as I should have when I first moved down. I was trying to be too technical, rather than using my strength.

"I've played up front mainly at Fulham and that's my main position and it's where I want to play.

"I like playing in different positions and I'd play wherever I'm told to.

"I'm not going to question where I'm asked to play because there's obviously a reason for it."

Bowie's experience of playing first-team football is invaluable and it's the talk of London town amongst his inquisitive teammates.

"Everyone, or most of them, had been at Fulham from the age of nine or ten," Bowie admitted.

"They've all played academy football but never experienced first-team football.

"A lot of them still ask me how they'd get on if they went there (Raith).


Bowie burst onto the scene at Raith Rovers (Image: SNS Group)

"I tell them that they'd probably struggle because it's a lot different to academy football but it's hard to explain it."

So what does the future hold for Bowie?

"The idea for next season is to go out on loan but I'm not too sure about the exact plan," he revealed.

"There's nothing too concrete yet. I've spoken to my agent and he said that I've got quite a few options, both in England and Scotland."

But for now, the Kirkcaldy native is solely focused on Fulham and he's determined to make an impact at the Craven Cottage side.

Marco Silva's side sit top of the Championship table, with a return to the Premier League on the horizon, and Bowie is already training with the first-team squad.

He added: "Last season, we were in a totally different training facility because of Covid but it's been much better this season.

"We played some under-23 vs first-team games in pre-season and during the international breaks, some of the youth players moved up.

"I've trained with the first-team this week and during other international breaks. It's really good to tap into some of their knowledge.

"A lot of the first-team boys are really encouraging. There's five or six of us training with them and they don't ever get on at you."

In Aleksandar Mitorvic, Bowie can learn, at close quarters, from a prolific striker that's netted an unbelievable 35 goals in 35 Championship appearances this campaign.

"100 percent, I look up to him," Bowie admitted. "The goals that he's scored are an absolute joke and you can't compare that to anyone else in the Championship.

"I've not trained with him that much or been able to speak to him. He's usually away on international duty when I've been with the first-team.


Aleksandar Mitrovic has been in unbelievable form for Fulham (Image: Getty Images)

"Ivan Toney had the record (for most Championship goals in a season) and Mitorvic has obviously broken that already."

Bowie's impressive form at Fulham earned him a Scotland Under-21 call-up last summer.

A slight injury ruled him out of contention for Scot Gemmill's most recent squad.

Scotland played without a recognised striker in the disappointing 2-2 draw with Kazakhstan in the last international break.

It opens the door for Bowie to make an impact at international level and his previous time with the Under-21's was a great experience for the proud Scot.

"It was at the end of the season and I only played like five minutes," Bowie said.

"I was the youngest player in the squad and I think it was more to gain experience at that level.

"Glenn Middelton and a lot of the older players really stood out. They had that first-team experience and that showed in training."

"I'm not overly focused on that just now. If I get called up then that's great but I want to make my mark at Fulham."



https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/spfl/scottish-premiership/kieron-bowies-amazing-fulham-rise-23564232

[WhiteJC]

Harry Wilson has not forgotten Derby County as Chris Kirchner enjoys Pride Park visit

Latest Derby County news from DerbyshireLive brings a look at the moments supporters may have missed from the 2-1 defeat of Fulham on Good Friday with Luke Plange at the double

Pride Park was bouncing on Good Friday for Derby County's stunning 2-1 defeat of Championship leaders Fulham.

Fabio Carvalho had put the Cottagers ahead after 20 minutes with a well-worked move and Marco Silva's side looked on course for a win that would have promoted them to the Premier League. But the Rams had other ideas and were not put off by wins for relegation rivals Reading and Peterborough United earlier in the day, with two goals from Luke Plange in the second half securing a valuable win for Wayne Rooney's men.

It was one of the best atmospheres Pride Park has experienced in recent memory, with supporters buoyed by Chris Kirchner's arrival from the United States of America as conversations continue about his prospective takeover of the club. Another subplot to the game was Harry Wilson's return to Pride Park for the first time since his loan spell with the Rams ended upon the conclusion of the 2018-19 season.

Wilson was a key player for Frank Lampard's play-off finalists with 18 goals and six assists for Derby and he received a brilliant reception from the club's supporters on Friday. He applauded supporters on his way out for a warm-up ahead of the game and inside ten minutes he went over to take a corner and clapped the South and West Stands and that was warmly received.

Supporters then chanted Wilson's song from his time at Derby, although a few were unsure and it was not belted out as loud as other songs throughout the evening. Wilson was taken off with 18 minutes to go, his impact limited just as it was in the reverse fixture in November.

You have to wonder if playing against a club that has so far given him the highlights of his career played an impact mentally on a player who is far too good for Championship level. Rams captain Tom Lawrence shared a warm embrace with Wilson at full-time as the home side celebrated a key victory in their ongoing relegation battle.

Centre-back pairing Curtis Davies and Eiran Cashin loved it at the end, fist pumps galore and applause for all corners of the stadium. With a Sky television camera trained on Kirchner throughout the game up in the director's box his reaction to the goals was captured and while he was loving it, members of his entourage were enjoying themselves just as much if not more.

Pride Park indeed.



https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/derby-county-chris-kirchner-wilson-6961622

[WhiteJC]

Martin looks to keep Paterson, Wolf and Christie

Russell Martin says new terms are to be offered to Jamie Paterson to extend his stay at Swansea whilst the club want to extend the loan of Hannes Wolf and are interested in a permanent deal for Cyrus Christie.

Paterson is key to the way Martin looks to play and has been an ever present since his dispute with the club earlier this season.

Similarly Wolf and Christie have become mainstays in the team although keeping them will be a little bit more complex than Paterson.

Wolf's loan from Borussia Monchengladbach ends this summer but Martin says he is loving his football in Wales and his performances have certainly started to show some of the potential that saw him move for big money in Europe.

Whether he stays beyond this summer on a further loan deal will be largely down to finances with Wolf's wages known to be on the larger side and whether Monchengladbach are happy with the player's progress to commit a further year on loan.

Christie on the other hand is out of contract at Fulham and Martin has arguably revived the right back's career with him offering not just solidity in defence but a potent force in attack.

The Swans boss said: "That's already been discussed (Paterson extension).

"I would hope that will get sorted fairly quickly after the end of the season. He definitely deserves something [for] the way he has been, especially the way he has come back after that break.

"If we are going to be a proper club, we need to look after people who do really well for us, hence Naughts [Kyle Naughton] staying. Hopefully Pato will be one of the next in line to make sure he commits here as well.

"I honestly don't know at the minute (regarding an extension for Hannes Wolf).

"Mark [Allen] is in conversation with loads of different agents. It's definitely something we are going to explore and we'll ask but there's so much involved – his parent club, the finance, how much they paid for him. We'll have to wait and see.

"He is loving it here and he has done great for us in two roles. He's just ended up playing there [wing-back] because he's done so well, and he's stayed there. I think it's a role that really suits him. He's at the top end of the pitch where he wants to be and he's really effective.

"He said to me, when he's played wing-back before, he hasn't enjoyed it, but this doesn't feel like wing-back to him. He can do both sides of the game because he's a brilliant pro and athletically he's outstanding. He's been really good. The only reason we got him was because of the style of play and we were able to convince him that whether he played inside or outside the shape, it would really suit him. Thankfully that's been the case."



https://planetswans.co.uk/2022/04/16/martin-looks-to-keep-paterson-wolf-and-christie/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham have fluffed automatic promotion before and know they need to finish the job on Tuesday... Marco Silva's side will be desperate to avoid the transfer trolley-dash that ruined their last two Premier League seasons

    Fulham will be wary to avoid play-offs at all costs after previous difficulties
    The club is bidding to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking
    Their last two promotions came via the play-offs and it harmed recruitment

Having bungled automatic promotion once, Fulham are anxious to finish the job against Preston on Tuesday and avoid a transfer trolley-dash that has blighted their last two Premier League campaigns.

Their last promotions in 2018 and 2020 came through the play-offs, which meant less time to recruit players and then subsequent relegations, first under Slavisa Jokanovic and Claudio Ranieri and then Scott Parker.

Playing catch-up two years ago, they were forced to sign three loan players on deadline day: Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Joachim Andersen and Toisin Adarabioyo. They proved useful players but by the time they clicked, Fulham were already bottom and in trouble with only one point from their opening six matches. This time, the club believe they have the right manager in Marco Silva and have already scouted far and wide with the target of swooping quickly for six new signings.


Marco Silva will be expecting his side to finish the job at Preston on Tuesday

The only missing piece of the jigsaw is confirming their Premier League status. It could have been achieved on Good Friday but they blew a half-time lead against Derby and lost 2-1 — their third defeat in five games.

It won't matter should Nottingham Forest lose to West Brom on Monday or Fulham secure three points at Craven Cottage the following evening.

But another stumble would cause concern, with Fulham's final four fixtures all toughies against Bournemouth, Forest, Luton and Sheffield United. Defender Joe Bryan is trying to blot out the significance of facing Preston this week.


The Fulham coach has seen his side lose their last two games as they look to secure promotion back to the top flight


The former Everton manager said his side needed to focus on getting the job done

'I don't want to talk about parties. We have had it drilled into us by the manager that we take every single game at a time,' he said.

'We can't feel sorry for ourselves and dwell on the Derby game. Finishing it off at home would be the ideal scenario now.'

Silva added: 'We have to focus from first until last. Forget what will happen if we win — we have to keep all these emotions until the end of the game. You can't use pressure as an excuse.'



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-10725129/Fulham-fluffed-automatic-promotion-know-need-finish-job-Tuesday.html

[WhiteJC]

Fulham lining up move for Burnley's Dwight McNeil

Fulham are said to be 'lining up' a move for Burnley star Dwight McNeil as one of several summer signings.

Fulham look poised to return to the Premier League ahead of next season. The club currently sit top of the Premier League table and have a 13 point lead over Huddersfield Town in 3rd, with just five games of their season remaining.

Burnley meanwhile sit in 18th place of the Premier League and look set for relegation into the Championship after what is now their sixth season in the top flight, with manager Sean Dyche having been sacked on Friday.

And now, with Burnley and Fulham looking set to swap places in the English Football Pyramid, the Londoners could swoop in for McNeil who is a product of the Clarets' youth academy.

The 22-year-old attacker made his breakthrough in the 2018/19 campaign and has featured more than 100 times in the Premier League since, though this season has certainly been a struggle for the Englishman who's managed just one assist and no goals in his 30 top flight appearances so far.

Speaking on McNeil just last week, Dyche had this to say:

"But he's got ability, there's no two ways about it. He could slot into any team in the Premier League, I am convinced of that, with his technical ability. And he continues to learn the game and when to get higher up the pitch, when to break the back line, when to go high and wide.

"His usual game is to come inside and drop short to get the ball. What he has to work on – which he is doing – is recognising the opportunities to go and break the back line, to get wide and run forward, because when he does that, he is a real threat."



https://the72.co.uk/270623/fulham-lining-up-move-for-burnleys-dwight-mcneil/