Tuesday Fulham Stuff - 26/04/22...

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Cyrus Christie | Let's keep the momentum going

Cyrus Christie wants Swansea City to carry their confidence and belief into the final few games of the season, starting with Tuesday's meeting with Bournemouth.

Head coach Russell Martin had been consistent in outlining the need for patience as he, his coaching staff and the players adapted to a new style of play.

And the rewards for that patience have been visible over the last couple of months, with the Swans now unbeaten in eight games and among the Championship's form teams.

Christie, on loan in SA1 from Fulham, has relished and been excited by the philosophy on display, and is keen to keep the momentum rolling.

"I think everybody has bought into it (Russell Martin's philosophy), everyone knows what we are doing," he said.

"The way we play takes a lot of courage and like I said, everybody has bought into it and is adapting. It has taken time.

"Obviously, I wasn't here at the start of the season and with the boys not having a pre-season under him (Martin) it was going to be tough.

"You can see most of the lads are loving the way we play. We are really comfortable out there when we are doing it.

"There is no panic in the lads and it is a great way of playing. We are causing a lot of teams problems.

"Now we have been putting it into place. Eight games unbeaten is fantastic, no matter what point of the season it is.

"It (the unbeaten run) is a massive confidence booster. You can see the lads are enjoying their football.

"Everyone is coming out regardless of the result, saying they enjoyed the football, and we analyse where we have gone wrong and where we can do better.

"You can see that it is clicking, and I am sure all the fans are buying into it as well and they know that next season can be a very good one for Swansea."



https://www.swanseacity.com/news/cyrus-christie-lets-keep-momentum-going

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Zinckernagel starts: The predicted Nottingham Forest XI to face Fulham on Tuesday

Nottingham Forest will be looking to continue their charge for automatic promotion when they travel to the English capital to face league leaders Fulham tomorrow night.

The Cottagers have already secured their promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking – but will secure the title this midweek if they can better AFC Bournemouth's result, with Scott Parker's men heading to South Wales to play Swansea City.

How the Cherries get on at the Swansea.com Stadium will also affect visitors Forest – because Steve Cooper's men are still pushing for a top-two spot at this stage with just five points now separating the two sides going into tomorrow.

Considering the Reds have a bigger prize to play for than Marco Silva's men with the latter strong favourites to secure the title even if they don't win on Tuesday evening, the pressure may be on them to come to Craven Cottage and take the three points.

It will certainly be a tall order for the East Midlands outfit to do that though with the quality of opposition they are facing in west London, a team that have scored 99 league goals so far this term with Aleksandar Mitrovic claiming 41 of those.

Focusing more on the away side though, we have predicted the starting lineup Cooper will go with against the Championship leaders.

Brice Samba stepped up to the plate very well at the weekend and has certainly deserved to keep his place, though the fact Ethan Horvath is also available will give the Reds plenty of confidence that they have enough quality and depth in their goalkeeping department.

There is more of a selection dilemma at centre-back because Steve Cook is probably ready to get more minutes under his belt after making his return from a semi-severe setback, but Tobias Figueiredo has done more than well enough to retain his starting spot.

And there's little chance of Scott McKenna or Joe Worrall being dropped at this stage as two key cogs in the Forest machine, retaining their consistency this term and proving their worth in recent months as serious promotion challengers.

Max Lowe isn't yet ready to return to action – but Jack Colback is doing well enough to keep his spot at this stage despite having a more orthodox wing-back option in Richie Laryea on the bench.

Throwing winter signing Laryea into a big game like this probably wouldn't be fair and this is why Colback starts again, with Djed Spence continuing to thrive on the opposite side.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/zinckernagel-starts-the-predicted-nottingham-forest-xi-to-face-fulham-on-tuesday/

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Four Fulham In Team Of The Year

Four Fulham players have been named in the EFL's Sky Bet Championship Team of the Season.

Antonee Robinson and Tosin are representing in defence, while Harry Wilson and Aleksandar Mitrović take spots further up the pitch.

Robinson has proven his worth at both ends of the pitch, racking up six goal involvements in all competitions. Birmingham City must be particularly sick of the left-back, after he scored twice and assisted once in his two appearances against them this season.

He's also helped us to 14 clean sheets, while his defensive teammate Tosin has racked up 15.

Tosin has also helped out at the top end of the pitch, bagging a crucial equaliser at home to Bournemouth, as well as in the 7-0 routing of Reading. He's also laid on two goals for teammates.

But when it comes to assists, nobody in the Championship can hold a candle to Wilson. In his first season at the Club, the winger has set up a remarkable 17 goals.

Add in the fact that he's found the net himself 10 times, plus a goal and assist in the FA Cup, and it's 29 goal involvements in just 41 matches for Wilson.

Mitrović's spot in Team of the Season will come as no surprise to anyone. With 41 goals in as many matches, he's comfortably the most prolific striker the Championship has ever seen.

Congratulations to all the lads on their achievements!

Team of the Year: Lee Nicholls (Huddersfield Town); Djed Spence (Nottingham Forest), Joe Worrall (Nottingham Forest), Tosin (Fulham), Lloyd Kelly (Bournemouth), Antonee Robinson (Fulham); Harry Wilson (Fulham), Ryan Yates (Nottingham Forest), Philip Billing (Bournemouth); Dominic Solanke (Bournemouth), Aleksandar Mitrović (Fulham).



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2022/april/24/four-fulham-in-team-of-the-year/

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Mitro Named Player Of The Year!

Aleksandar Mitrović's wonderful season continued on Sunday evening when he was named Championship Player of the Year at the 2022 EFL Awards.

Harry Wilson was also deservedly nominated for the accolade, along with Dominic Solanke of Bournemouth, but it was the irrepressible Mitro who took the trophy home.

It doesn't come as a great surprise, considering he's scored 41 times in as many matches, absolutely destroying the previous record for goals in a Championship season.

Mitro is also having his best ever season on the assist front, laying on seven for his teammates, meaning he's been involved in a goal every 75 minutes.

Congratulations Mitro on a magnificent campaign!



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2022/april/24/mitro-named-player-of-the-year-/

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Nottingham Forest XI to face Fulham predicted as Reds set for crunch clash

Latest Nottingham Forest news from NottinghamshireLive as Reds prepare to take on Fulham at Craven Cottage

Nottingham Forest can make mathematically certain of a top-six finish when they take on league leaders Fulham at Craven Cottage on Tuesday night.

The Reds are almost assured of a play-off place, at least. But one more point would absolutely guarantee it. Pinching second spot off Bournemouth is also still not out of the question.

Steve Cooper's men will be aiming to keep up the pressure on the Cherries when they head to the capital. Off the back of beating Peterborough United at the weekend, they will come up against a Fulham side already promoted to the Premier League and eager to make sure of the title.

The Forest head coach stuck with a winning team at London Road, naming the same starting XI which had seen off West Bromwich Albion last week. And it could be that he goes with the same line-up again, as he aims to maintain momentum.

The Reds were left sweating on the fitness of Lewis Grabban after Saturday's 1-0 victory, with the striker having to be subbed off barely 15 minutes after coming off the bench. Even if the injury doesn't prove to be anything serious, it's unlikely the skipper would be risked against the Cottargers.

Cooper remains without Aston Villa loanee Keinan Davis, so Sam Surridge will almost certainly lead the line once again. The manager could opt to freshen up the attack by bringing in Joe Lolley, perhaps in place of Philip Zinckernagel. But the latter impressed against Posh and was instrumental in what proved to be the winner.

At the back, the visitors made it four clean-sheets in five games with the shut-out at Peterborough. Steve Cook had made his comeback from injury against the Baggies in the previous game, but didn't get any extra minutes at the weekend.

Cooper must decide whether the January signing is ready to start a match. And if he is, whether to break up the back-three of Joe Worrall, Tobias Figueiredo and Scott McKenna which has been rock-solid of late.

Predicted Forest XI: Samba; Worrall, Figueiredo, McKenna; Spence, Yates, Garner, Colback; Zinckernagel; Johnson, Surridge.



https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/football-news/nottingham-forest-predicted-team-fulham-6993211

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Championship team of the season announced as Aleksandar Mitrovic lands best player award

The Serbian goal machine has played a huge role in helping Fulham clinch an immediate promotion back to the Premier League - and he has now been recognised for his superb goalscoring feats

Aleksandar Mitrovic claimed the Championship player of the season award after an astonishing campaign in the second tier.

The Fulham striker has hit a whopping 41 league goals this season, playing a major role in helping to fire the Cottagers straight back to the Premier League. The Serbian beat off competition from Fulham team-mate Harry Wilson and Bournemouth's Dominic Solanke to win the prized gong.

His huge tally means he is the most prolific striker in a season since the competition was rebranded in the 2004-05 campaign. He surpassed the previous high set by Brentford's Ivan Toney last season (31 goals) and is now just one shy of Guy Whittingham's 42-goal achievement, set back in the 1992-93 season.

Mitrovic picked up his honour at the EFL Awards 2022 which took place on Sunday night at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.

"It's been an amazing season on a personal level," he said upon receiving the award. "As a striker, you try to score as many goals as you can. You always want to score more and more. There's a few more games so let's see. Since the new manager's come in, we've created our style of place and it's perfectly suited for me and every player in our squad. He gets the best out of his players.

"After the last season in the Premier League, it's hard when the mentality is down. We know how hard this league is, it's not easy to come to the Championship. We showed that we wanted to be top of the League from the first game."

MK Dons' Scott Twine landed the Sky Bet League One Player of the Season. Twine saw Sheffield Wednesday's Barry Bannan and Rotherham United's Michael Smith. In League Two, Kane Wilson capped a fine weekend off by being named the divisional player of the season.

It came just a day after his Forest Green Rovers side secured promotion into League One for the first time in their history. Wilson saw off competition from teammate Matty Stevens and Newport County's Dom Telford. Nottingham Forest's Brennan Johnson, who has enjoyed a breakthrough campaign, landed the Championship young player of the season award.

As for the Championship team of the season award, it was dominated by the top two - Fulham and Bournemouth.

Between them they provided seven of the 11 players. Mitrovic naturally won a place alongside colleagues Harry Wilson, Tosin Adarabioyo and Antonee Robinson. The Cherries' three representatives were Solanke, Phillip Billing and Lloyd Kelly.

Forest, who have been transformed from relegation strugglers into play-off contenders under Steve Cooper, also have three players selected. Djed Spence, on loan from Middlesbrough, gets the nod along with Joe Worrall and Ryan Yates. Huddersfield goalkeeper Lee Nicholls completes the line-up, with Luton boss Nathan Jones chosen as manager of the season for turning the Hatters into genuine promotion contenders on a shoestring budget.



https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/championship-team-season-announced-aleksandar-26789444

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Fulham U18s put five past Blues

Fulham's under 18s delivered another blistering performance as they thrashed Birmingham City 5-0 at Motspur Park on Saturday afternoon.

Ali Melloul's men were dominant from the off and their seventh successive league victory lifted them into fourth place in the Premier League south, level on points with Crystal Palace. The hosts opened the scoring just before the quarter of an hour when high intensity pressing from Olly Sanderson prompted a mistake from Blues goalkeeper Kobi Brooks, who could only clear straight to Lemar Gordon. The teenager winger finished emphatically – and soon doubled the lead.

Gordon, who has made a real impression out wide this term with the under 18s, followed some fine close control to find the bottom corner with a low shot after being played in by a brilliant ball from Terrell Works. Birmingham did put Fulham under some significant pressure at the start of the second period, with goalkeeper Michael Allen making a couple of excellent saves to preserve the hosts' two-goal cushion.

Matt Dibley-Dias extended Fulham's lead with a fabulous free-kick before turning provider for substitute Michael Olakigbe. His superb 74th minute cross was flawlessly finished at the far post – and there was still time for Sanderson to round off an awesome all-round display with the fifth goal in stoppage time, supplying a simple finish from close range after a strong raid down the wing from Luc de Fougerolles.

FULHAM UNDER 18s: Allen; de Fougerolles, Araujo (Amissah 80), Parkes, Works (Olakigbe 72), Okkas (M. Parker 77), McCoy-Splatt, Lanquedoc, Dibley-Dias, Gordon, Sanderson. Subs (not used): Borto, Caton.

GOALS: Gordon (14, 18), Dibley-Dias (71), Olakigbe (74), Sanderson (90+3).

BIRMINGHAM CITY: Brooks; Willis, Manton (Regan 90+1), Carsley, Ogor; Home (Oduka 72), Patterson, Dance, Khela; Rushton (Williams 65), Beresford. Subs (not used): Warmington, Mazwi.

BOOKED: Khela.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2022/04/fulham-u18s-put-five-past-blues/

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The Neco Williams interview: My Wales World Cup dream, Liverpool's bid for the quadruple and what makes Klopp so special

Liverpool and Wales youngster Neco Williams has the football world at his feet and has just helped Fuham win promotion to the Premier League. Here he tells WalesOnline about a truly incredible season that is unfolding


Neco Williams looks a potential Wales great in the making and is having a terrific season (Image: David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

For someone who has just turned 21 years of age, Neco Williams has already had an extraordinary career and indeed season. The best, however, is yet to come.

In the coming weeks, the hugely gifted Wales star could help fire his country to the World Cup, win the Championship with Fulham and watch his Liverpool colleagues celebrate a potential quadruple of Premier League title, Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup.

Williams may be watching from afar, but he's heavily invested in anything Jurgen Klopp's team do as well. He's played in the Prem for them this season before going on loan to Fulham, starred in European wins over AC Milan, Atletico Madrid and Porto and also featured three times on Liverpool's march to winning the League Cup.

Throw in a league title medal with Liverpool a couple of years back, helping Fulham win promotion just a few days ago, plus a key role in Wales' World Cup play-off triumph over Austria, and no wonder Neco feels in football dreamland.

"I've won the Premier League and hopefully I can go on to win the Championship next. I have gained a lot of experience in a short amount of time. I've gone from starting a Champions League game against AC Milan, and beating them 2-1, to playing Barnsley, so it's been valuable and varied experience at such a young age.

"If Wales can see this through by getting to the World Cup and Liverpool can win that quadruple, wow how incredible that would be."

With 18 caps already to his name, Williams has the potential to become one of the Wales greats. He's far too modest to suggest that, of course, but just look at what he offers to the national team. He can play right or left with equal aplomb, he's quick, defends expertly, but also wows the fans with those surging runs forward to help create or score goals himself.

"I think it just happens naturally when you look at modern full-backs have developed," he says of his swashbuckling style. "They're not like your standard Gary Neville kind of full-back today, I suppose, they're more offence minded. The best around, players like Trent Alexander Arnold, Andy Robertson, Joao Cancelo of Manchester City, are like midfielders or wingers trying to get assists and score, rather than just defend. It's an exciting role because you feel as important as any other player on the pitch."

Indeed, having players like Neco, Harry Wilson, Dan James and Kieffer Moore, next to Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey, of course, is what gives Wales an even greater cutting edge than Chris Coleman's Euro rampaging side, thus offering real hope that the Class of 2022 can qualify for the World Cup after the agonising failures of so many of their predecessors.

An epic night awaits on June 5 against either Scotland or the Ukraine at the same Cardiff City Stadium venue where two Gareth Bale goals against Austria set up a mouth-watering play-off final.

You sense Neco can't wait.

"It's always amazing when we're playing there in front of our own fans, but that game was on another level again," he says of the Austria win. "The fans singing the anthem is a moment I will always remember, their backing throughout the match. When we're playing out there we feel like the Welsh fans are our 12th man. That gives us the boost to go on and win these big games.

"These are the matches we look forward to, every single one of us dreams of going to the World Cup. We're 100 per cent aware of what's gone on before, how many years it is since Wales qualified, so it would be a massive achievement.

"World Cups don't come around that often so we need to take our chance and do everything we can to qualify - not just for ourselves and the staff, but for the the whole Welsh nation. We've got one job out of the way so far, beating Austria, and we've got the final to go.

"It'll be one of the biggest games in everyone's career, one match away from reaching the World Cup. We know it's going to be hard, Ukraine and Scotland are great teams in their own right with world class players, but I feel we have the self belief, confidence, chemistry and bond to go on and win that game.

"The fact that we're at home again is a massive factor. We know 30,000-plus Welsh fans inside that stadium, indeed an entire nation, will be fully behind us, being incredibly loud, motivating us to go on and win. We want to give it back to those fans, put a smile on their faces. And hopefully if we do qualify it will help inspire others to get playing football."

That last bit is a subject close to Williams, who spoke to WalesOnline moments after making his debut at a McDonald's Fun Football session. McDonald's is giving thousands of youngsters aged 5-11 the chance to start their football journey and make their Fun Football debuts across 21 centres in Wales.

"It was just brilliant seeing so many youngsters, girls and boys, playing, running around, laughing, and enjoying their football. The free sessions are run all over the county and making football more accessible can only be a good thing for the future of Welsh football," he says.

It's not so far back that Neco was the age of the very youngsters he's just been coaching, but an awful lot has happened during the intervening years.

It started in earnest in October 2019 when Williams made his Liverpool debut, a League Cup game against Arsenal when he had an immediate impact by setting up a last-gasp Divock Origi equaliser in a 5-5 draw, before Jurgen Klopp's men went on to win on penalties.

He reflects: "A few days before we started doing shape work in training and I seemed to be in the starting XI in that. So I had an idea but no-one told me and I was just thinking to myself 'This can't be true?'

"Then Klopp came up to me and said 'You're starting tomorrow'. Before the game he also gave me a little pep talk, saying 'Listen, don''t worry about it. You'll probably be nervous, but that will stop when that whistle goes and you'll be completely fine'. And that's exactly what happened, as soon the whistle went I just completely focussed on the game.

"It wasn't an easy debut, I guess. Some players might make their debuts in the last five or 10 minutes of a match. Mine was starting versus Arsenal at Anfield, in front of 55,000 fans. It will always be a night I remember, but to win and progress through to the next round made it even more special.

"As, I suppose, is the fact that I set up that goal for Origi. At the Kop end too, in about the 94th minute it was that we equalised. What a moment. Because it was my debut, I never stopped running that night. Yet as soon as I crossed that ball in I remember getting cramp pretty much everywhere. So it was just as well he scored that goal because I wasn't going to be able to get back again to defend! Actually, I thought the game was going to extra time so was taking salts and gels as much as I could to prepare myself for that. Then I heard one of my team-mates say it was going straight to penalties - I was quite glad!"

Enough Premier League appearances quickly followed for Williams to win a medal as Liverpool stormed to the title, the following season he made his Wales debut in FInland, scored the winner versus Bulgaria three days after, played in the Euros and Champions League.

This season, after eight Liverpool appearances, he was loaned out by Klopp to Fulham - and has instantly helped the Cottagers win promotion to the Premier. It's some journey already.

"I'm at the age where I just want to be playing week in week out and I need that experience. That was the main thing in January when Fulham were interested," he says. "To play regularly is great, to be promoted makes it even sweeter and hopefully we'll make it even better by winning the league.

"It's been a great loan, I will be going back to Liverpool in the summer feeling like a more mature player - and definitely an improved player. And getting promoted is a nice one to put on the CV, too!"

Whilst shining for Fulham and Wales though, Williams keeps a close eye on what is happening at Anfield, where Trent Alexander Arnold and Andy Robertson currently stand in his way of a place in Klopp's first team. Those two, of course, are world class talents - the Liverpool boss certainly has riches in the full-back department.

"I've been keeping in touch. I'm closer to the younger lads and when they see me scoring they send me little jokes, we have a bit of banter as I'm not known for my goals. One of the assistant coaches texted congratulating me on the promotion, which was nice," he says.

"I don't know yet where I will be playing next season. I'm focussing on getting this year done, get the Wales games over in June and we'll see what happens then. If that's either staying at Liverpool, or if it's going out on loan again, I'm not entirely sure at this stage.

"I've been at Liverpool since I was six and you always want to play for the team you grew up with. But I know it's not going to be easy. Trent is only 23 himself, for me he's the best right-back in the world. I watch him in games and training and try to learn as much as possible from him.

"Trent and Andy are incredible players who have been doing it for years. So it's always going to be tough trying to get into that team and be a regular starter. However, the key thing for me is just improving every day, taking in as much information off players and staff as possible and trying to put it into my own game."

Which brings use nicely onto a certain Mr Klopp. What does he say to Neco? What makes him so special as a manager?

"He's just football mad. Everything with him is football. It's incredible how he has connected with the Liverpool fans and bonded the players to make the team closer, the fans closer. It's always an extra bonus to have that chemistry, as we see with Wales," says Williams.

"He's always encouraging me, says his door's always open. When you need a chat he's free to speak to you and crucially he always gives you honest answers. He tells me what I need to do to improve my game, explains what's going to be happening with me. Trust me, training under Klopp you can only improve as a player. Each day and every day I get taught by him, I grasp as much info from him as possible.

"Obviously, he is one of the best managers in the world. You see it with what Liverpool are doing and what he's done with players to transform them into who they are today. Look at the players he has bought in and how he has improved them. Phenomenal. To think they're chasing the quadruple! It would be a truly massive achievement if they can pull that off."

Liverpool are understandably fabulous as far as Williams is concerned, but we started this chat with Wales and we must end it with Wales, given what is just around the corner. There is important club football to be dealing with before June comes around, but already that World Cup play-off final is on the radar, not far from anyone's thoughts.

"It means absolutely everything to play for the badge on the shirt. Every time you step out onto the pitch in that shirt is exciting," says Williams. "I've always had the Wales kits when I was little and to be able to wear one of the senior ones these days is an incredible feeling.

"It's even more special because my mates support different clubs, but whatever happens they are each Wales fans so they can watch the game together and support me.

"Given the age I'm at, I've already gained a lot of experience, won a few medals so far. Hopefully there will be more to come - as well as the main aim of playing in a World Cup."

An entire Welsh nation will be echoing those sentiments in the coming weeks.



https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/neco-williams-interview-wales-world-23752716

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Talking Points: Bournemouth

The finest of margins

When Mark Travers clawed away Aleksandar Mitrović's 56th minute header, the away fans in close proximity rued what had looked to be a wonder save to deny us the opener. Even when referee Graham Scott blew his whistle and pointed down the pitch, some thought a foul had been given. It wasn't until Mitro and his teammates began celebrating that it was apparent he'd scored. It was some header, too, with the big man doing brilliantly to outjump Nat Phillips and get plenty of power on Harry Wilson's cross. Travers did well to get a strong hand on the ball, but Hawk-Eye replays showed that it had indeed fully crossed the line, but literally by about one millimetre!



Buoyant away end

Normally when you've conceded an equaliser in the eighth minute of stoppage time, you would be left feeling fairly flat, but the feel-good factor throughout the Club is such that the travelling faithful were celebrating like we'd won. Seconds after Dominic Solanke's penalty hit the net, the away fans were back singing, and didn't stop until departing the ground, after all the players and Marco Silva had come over to acknowledge their support.

Bitty game

There was clearly a lot of talent on show in a fixture between the current top-two sides in the Championship, but the game wasn't able to really find a rhythm or flow. 41 fouls were awarded by the referee, which meant that it ended up as a bit of a stop-start encounter. "It wasn't the best game to see, it definitely wasn't," Silva said afterwards. "A lot of challenges. Both teams didn't perform at their best, in my opinion."

Mind the gap

While victory was the aim as we looked to all but seal the title, a draw isn't the worst result in the world considering the context. Bournemouth are now the only side capable of catching us in the league, so it was important we didn't allow them to make up any ground on Saturday. The Cherries still sit nine points behind us, though they do have a game in hand when they face promotion rivals Nottingham Forest next week.

Reedy's century

Harrison Reed became the latest player to reach the 100 appearance mark for Fulham. An absolute pillar of consistency, Reedy marked the occasion with another battling display, and you imagine was only taken off considering he was on a yellow and there was a fairly low threshold for what constituted a foul.



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2022/april/25/talking-points-bournemouth/

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Fulham loan star Neco Williams makes admission over Liverpool transfer situation amid permanent move rumours

Fulham loan man Neco Williams has admitted he does not know what the summer transfer window will hold for him back with parent club Liverpool.

Fulham brought Williams in on loan in January, giving him the chance to play regular first-team football away from Liverpool.

Since then, the talented Welshman has become a mainstay in Marco Silva's side. Across all competitions, Williams has managed two goals and two assists in 14 outings for the Cottagers, and rumours over a potential return to Craven Cottage have circulated ahead of the summer transfer window.

Now, amid the speculation, Williams has admitted he doesn't know what the plans for his summer are just yet.

As quoted by Wales Online, Williams spoke highly of his time with Fulham and stressed his desire to play regular starting football before admitting he "isn't entirely sure" of what the summer holds for him.

"I'm at the age where I just want to be playing week in week out and I need that experience.

"That was the main thing in January when Fulham were interested. To play regularly is great, to be promoted makes it even sweeter and hopefully we'll make it even better by winning the league.

"It's been a great loan, I will be going back to Liverpool in the summer feeling like a more mature player – and definitely an improved player.

"I don't know yet where I will be playing next season. I'm focussing on getting this year done, get the Wales games over in June and we'll see what happens then. If that's either staying at Liverpool, or if it's going out on loan again, I'm not entirely sure at this stage.

"I've been at Liverpool since I was six and you always want to play for the team you grew up with. But I know it's not going to be easy."

Looking to the summer...

Fulham will be determined to finally cement their place back in the Premier League next season after a couple of campaigns yo-yoing between the top-flight and the Championship. To do so, their recruitment will need to be spot on, and signing a player like Williams again could be perfect.

The youngster has the best years of his career ahead of him and already has experience of playing in the Premier League, so a reunion could be worthwhile on either a permanent or temporary basis though.

It remains to be seen what Liverpool plan on doing with Williams this summer though. Trent Alexander-Arnold has the right-back spot locked down, so regular game time will likely be limited for the current Fulham loan ace.



https://the72.co.uk/271420/fulham-loan-star-neco-williams-makes-admission-over-liverpool-transfer-situation-amid-permanent-move-rumours/

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Harry Wilson confirms permanent Liverpool exit after Fulham's promotion

Harry Wilson has confirmed that he will seal a permanent move from Liverpool to Fulham at the end of the season after helping to guide the Cottagers back to the Premier League.

The 25-year-old Welshman joined Fulham on loan last summer with a view to a permanent deal and played a major role as Marco Silva's men secured automatic promotion back to the Premier League, bagging ten goals and 17 assists to date.

Speaking to Goal, Wilson has now confirmed that Fulham have taken up the option to sign him permanently and he is looking forward to settling at a club after so many years out on loan from Liverpool.

"I know now that I will be at a club that I will be at for the next few years after a permanent move," he said. "That was what I wanted. I wanted somewhere to settle down off the pitch so I can enjoy it on the pitch.

"My first season here has been great, the club has been great with me, I settled in well with my teammates and set me up for a fantastic year. I have managed to get double figures for goals and assists, topping it off tonight by getting into the team of the year.

"This year has been my most enjoyable season. I have that stability now and have a great year behind me."

His loan with Fulham was his sixth since 2015, having also had spells at Crewe, Hull, Derby, Bournemouth and Cardiff.

"I feel like I am not so young anymore," he continued. "When you are younger, loans are great, they give you experience. My first couple really helped me but you get to a point where you want to settle down."



https://www.90min.com/posts/harry-wilson-permanent-liverpool-exit-fulham

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Rodak: 'I don't want to sit on the bench again'

Marek Rodak believes the experienced he has amassed as Fulham's first choice goalkeeper could benefit the club in the Premier League – but he admits he would consider his future if he is relegated to second choice at Craven Cottage following promotion.

The Slovakian international, who was replaced as the club's number one having helped the Whites win promotion via the play-offs under Scott Parker in 2020, has been tipped to be one of the casualties of Marco Silva's summer rebuild with the top flight in mind. He is wary of history repeating itself, telling Slovak outlet Sport.sk in a wide-ranging interview:

"It's hard to say how it will be with me. Before the end of the season, I will have to talk to the club management and specify how I look at it and how they do. Based on that, I will be able to move on. Football is everything but it is also a business. It will mainly depend on whether they count on me. So far – they seem to be counting on me. It would be most beautiful if they counted on next year.

I think I am in a better position than before as I am a year older and I have more experience. If someone new comes in, it will be up to the coach to decide who is the first choice. If the situation from last year is repeated, I would certainly not be satisfied and I would have to deal with it. I guess I would have to go somewhere to keep playing. I would not like to sit on the bench again."

Rodak says that he has a good relationship with Silva, insisting that the Fulham head coach kept his word after bringing in Paulo Gazzaniga last summer and recalling the Fulham academy graduate to the first team after eleven games.

"Marco called me and said he would start with Paulo, but that I had nothing to fear and I would definitely get a chance. It didn't come until the twelfth round [of matches] and I'm glad he followed what he told me. It turned out great then and it can be said that I didn't let Paulo into the side after that, because the whole team was doing so well.

The team under his leadership works very well. It works. We try to play aggressively, which is certainly very good for the fans as we score a lot of goals and don't concede many. We have scored 98 and let in 37, which is the second smallest number in the competition. It is the business card of the whole club, the coach and our set philosophy. Everyone likes the style of Silva and so far we are doing well."



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2022/04/rodak-i-dont-want-to-sit-on-the-bench-again/

[WhiteJC]

Wilson: Fulham's promotion is 'my most enjoyable season'

Harry Wilson says his first year at Fulham – that has seen the Whites clinch an immediate return to the top flight – has been the most enjoyable of his career.

The Welsh winger, who finished second to Serbian striking sensation Aleksandar Mitrovic in the Championship player of the season vote at last night's EFL awards, confirmed to Goal that he would be joining Fulham permanently in the summer under the terms of his loan move from Liverpool.

"I know now that I will be at a club that I will be at for the next few years after a permanent move. That was what I wanted. I wanted somewhere to settle down off the pitch so I can enjoy it on the pitch.

My first season here has been great, the club has been great with me, I settled in well with my teammates and set me up for a fantastic year. I have managed to get double figures for goals and assists, topping it off tonight by getting into the team of the year.

This year has been my most enjoyable season. I have that stability now and have a great year behind me. I feel like I am not so young anymore. When you are younger, loans are great, they give you experience. My first couple really helped me but you get to a point where you want to settle down."

The 25 year-old quickly became one of Marco Silva's automatic selections having learned from his August sending off at Huddersfield. Wilson has scored eleven goals and added eighteen assists in 41 club appearances whilst also helping Wales into a play-off for World Cup qualification.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2022/04/wilson-fulhams-promotion-is-my-most-enjoyable-season/

[WhiteJC]

Neco Williams set for Liverpool return – but wants to play "week in and week out"

Neco Williams says he will be returning to Liverpool a "more mature and improved player" after helping Fulham win promotion from the Sky Bet Championship.

Williams, who joined Fulham on loan in January, has been linked with an Anfield exit this summer to get more regular game-time with Trent Alexander-Arnold blocking his path to the Liverpool first-team.

But the Wales full-back, who signed a five-year Liverpool contract in 2020, says he will be returning to Anfield a better player following Fulham's return to the top flight.

"It's been a great loan," said 21-year-old Williams, a Premier League title winner with Liverpool in 2020, at a McDonald's Fun Football session.

"But I'll be going back to Liverpool in the summer, feeling like a more mature player and definitely an improved player.

"Right now, I just want to play football week in and week out.

"I want to play as much as possible and gain as much experience as possible, and so far it has definitely helped me.

"I've improved as a player and getting promoted is a nice one to put on the CV."

Fulham entertain Nottingham Forest at Craven Cottage on Tuesday and could clinch the Championship title.

Victory would take them to 90 points and second-placed Bournemouth would be unable to reach that tally by dropping points at Swansea.

On winning promotion, Williams said: "First and foremost, it's that experience of winning with a great group of players, which is hard to replicate.

"I've won the Premier League and hopefully I can go on to win the Championship now. I have gained a lot of experience in a short amount of time.

"I've gone from starting a Champions League game against AC Milan and beating them 2-1 to playing Barnsley.

"So I have gained quite a lot of valuable and varied experience at such a young age.

"I want to be a Premier League player. For me, I think it's the best and the toughest league in the world.

"And you always want to be playing against the best players in the world."

Williams could end the season by helping Wales reach only their second-ever World Cup, and their first since 1958.

Wales will play either Scotland or Ukraine in Cardiff on June 5 to decide a place at the finals in Qatar later this year.

Williams said: "It means absolutely everything to play for the badge on the shirt. Every time you step out onto the pitch in that shirt is exciting.

"I've always dreamt of playing at a World Cup since I was little, and you don't realise how hard it is to get there.

"We've never been so close before in our lives. We are going to give everything we can to get there.

"Playing at the World Cup will be a huge boost to the whole Welsh nation and will hopefully inspire others to get playing."



https://www.thisisanfield.com/2022/04/neco-williams-set-for-liverpool-return-but-wants-to-play-week-in-and-week-out/

[WhiteJC]

Birmingham City could hand lifeline to Fulham's Alfie Mawson this summer

Birmingham City 'are still courting' Fulham's Alfie Mawson ahead of the summer transfer window, reports BirminghamLive.

Birmingham City tried to sign Fulham centre-back Mawson, 28, earlier in the season, but Lee Bowyer's side failed to their attempts to sign the Englishman.

After joining from Swansea City in 2018, Mawson has failed to make an impact at Craven Cottage having featured just six times in the Championship for Marco Silva's side this season.

A combination of injury and poor form has limited Mawson's appearances over the past two seasons. He spent time on loan at Bristol City last time round and after initially impressing, he quickly returned to Fulham after sustaining an injury.

But after Fulham confirmed their promotion to the Premier League last week, Mawson could now seal his summer exit from the club, and BirminghamLive claim that Blues could rekindle their interest in the defender.

'Not the happiest'...

Amid January interest from the likes of Birmingham City, Silva revealed that was keen on keeping Mawson and fellow central defender Michael Hector, but suggested that neither may be happy at the club due their respective lack of game time.

He told West London Sport:

"I you ask me if Alfie and Hector want to play more, I will say 'of course', but football is like that.

"They always show full support to everything and when I talk to them they understand the situation.

"But they are not the happiest guys in the world because they want to play football. But they have been professional which is what I expect and demand."

Although Birmingham City are a club who've had little direction for the past few years, and whose fans have really turned against the club and its owners this season, it could be a haven for Mawson.

He's definitely a player with ability and at 28 tears old, he still has plenty of footballing years left ahead of him.

It looks as though he could be moved on in the summer and if Blues can bring him in it'll be a really shrewd move, and if Mawson can find some fitness and play regularly then he'll become a really key player for the club.



https://the72.co.uk/271458/birmingham-city-could-hand-lifeline-to-fulhams-alfie-mawson-this-summer/

[WhiteJC]

Nottingham Forest: Cooper can replace Grabban with Surridge

Tuesday evening sees Nottingham Forest take on Championship leaders Fulham.

Fulham's future was sealed last week when a 3-0 win against Preston North End confirmed that they would be playing Premier League football next season.

The Cottagers need six points to wrap up the title, though, Forest's own ambition of promotion may forbid them of all three points.

On the chalkboard

Steve Cooper would have been ecstatic with the return of the club's second-highest goal-scorer this season when he made his return in early April against Blackpool.

The Nottingham boss has eased Lewis Grabban back into action since then, with the Jamaican international making his first start in almost two months in the 1-0 defeat against Luton Town.

Grabban made a 15-minute cameo in Forest's last game against Peterborough and was forced off in the 89th minute with an injury blow, with both Cooper and the 34-year-old Grabban hoping it is not serious.

Zero-to-hero

The timing of Sam Surridge's resurgence to the starting XI has coincided brilliantly for Cooper.

The 23-year-old, who has been described as "clinical" by a reporter, has bagged five goals from just 11 shots for the Reds in all competitions.

His minutes per goal metric is very similar to Grabban's 173 MPG, evidencing his decisiveness and suitability as an adequate replacement for the 34-year-old with a stat of 170 MPG.

Surridge has gone from a bit-part player to a starter over the last two games, with goals against West Brom and Peterborough in back-to-back starts allowing him to show Cooper exactly what he is about.

With three penalties awarded this season for the £12.6k-per-week earner's efforts in the opposition's box, he brings more unpredictability to Forest.

Grabban's latest setback only strengthens Surridge's case as a starter for however long the Jamaica international is out for.

He will be hoping to get another return in Tuesday's game against Fulham and put a delay on their title celebrations in the hopes of boosting Nottingham Forest's promotion ambitions.



https://www.footballfancast.com/nottingham-forest-news/nottingham-forest-cooper-can-replace-grabban-with-surridge-steve-cooper-djed-spence-lewis-grabban-championship-promotion-premier-league-fulham

[WhiteJC]

Latest Fulham news: Mitrovic interest, goalkeeper hits out, Serie A man eyed + more

After securing their promotion to the Premier League, Fulham have seen a number of transfer stories emerge.

Marco Silva's side secured their return to the top flight with a win over Preston North End last week, holding Bournemouth to a 1-1 draw over the weekend too.

And in the days since earning promotion, Fulham have been linked with an ambitious move for Lazio's Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, with 90min claiming that Fulham are rivalling Manchester United and Juventus for the midfielder.

Elsewhere, a couple of Fulham players have been linked with moves away, the first being star striker Aleksandar Mitrovic.

After his impressive showing in the Championship this season, reports have suggested that Arsenal and Newcastle United are both keen on a summer move for the Serb:

And separate reports surfacing today have revealed that Birmingham City retain an interest in Alfie Mawson.

The defender was linked with a move to St Andrew's in January but Silva opted to keep the centre-back at the club.

It's not known what Silva's plans for Mawson are in the Premier League but Birmingham City could make a move for the 28-year-old this summer, and Fulham could well be inclined to sell.

And lastly, goalkeeper Marek Rodak has suggested that he could be on the move this summer.

He was previously overlooked when Fulham were last in the Premier League and after helping them to promotion this season, he's had his say on what the summer might hold for him if he's overlooked once more.

He said (via HammyEnd):

"It's hard to say how it will be with me. Before the end of the season, I will have to talk to the club management and specify how I look at it and how they do.

"Based on that, I will be able to move on. Football is everything but it is also a business."

Fulham welcome Nottingham Forest to Craven Cottage tomorrow evening, and the game is available to watch live on Sky Sports.



https://the72.co.uk/271473/latest-fulham-news-mitrovic-interest-goalkeeper-hits-out-serie-a-man-eyed-more/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham boss outlines Nottingham Forest expectations ahead of showdown at Craven Cottage

Latest Nottingham Forest news from NottinghamshireLive as Reds prepare to face Fulham in Championship

Fulham boss Marco Silva has hailed the "fantastic" work done by Nottingham Forest counterpart Steve Cooper.

The two sides meet at Craven Cottage on Tuesday night for what promises to be an enthralling encounter. And although the hosts have already secured promotion, there is still much at stake.

Silva's side want to clinch the title, while the Reds are bidding to join them in the Premier League. Cooper has guided Forest from bottom of the Championship table to fourth in the space of seven months.

A top-six finish is all-but in the bag for the Reds, with just a point required to make it mathematically certain. But they are also still not out of the running for second spot.

Cooper's men are five points below Bournemouth. Both teams have four games remaining, and will go head-to-head at the Vitality Stadium next week.

Before then, though, Forest will be aiming for a positive result in the capital. And Silva is expecting a different proposition to when Fulham triumphed 4-0 at the City Ground in October.

"Steve Cooper is doing fantastic, they're fighting for something really important," he said. "At the Cottage it will be tough for them, 100 percent sure, but we'll have to play at our maximum.

"We beat them 4-0 but it didn't reflect the game. He's doing really well, playing good football, playing at a good level. Some signings made them stronger. Now they're in a good position."



https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/football-news/nottingham-forest-fulham-silva-cooper-6995808

[WhiteJC]

'I'll be going back to Liverpool,' says Williams

Neco Williams appears to have poured cold water on the possibility of a permanent move to Fulham by telling the press that he will be 'going back to Liverpool this summer'.

The Welsh full back has enjoyed a sensational loan spell at Craven Cottage, slotting straight into Marco Silva's back four after arriving from Anfield in January and playing a key role as the Whites soared to the top of the Championship – clinching an immediate return to the top flight with a home win over Preston North End last week.

Newspaper reports had suggested that Liverpool were open to a second loan spell for Williams next season or even a deal starting at around £12m, but the 21 year-old told the Press Association:

"It's been a great loan. But I'll be going back to Liverpool in the summer, feeling like a more mature player and definitely an improved player. Right now, I just want to play football week in and week out.

I want to play as much as possible and gain as much experience as possible, and so far it has definitely helped me. I've improved as a player and getting promoted is a nice one to put on the CV."

Williams admits he wants to add the Championship title to the Premier League trophy he won with Liverpool in 2020.

"First and foremost, it's that experience of winning with a great group of players, which is hard to replicate. I've won the Premier League and hopefully I can go on to win the Championship now. I have gained a lot of experience in a short amount of time.

I've gone from starting a Champions League game against AC Milan and beating them 2-1 to playing Barnsley. So I have gained quite a lot of valuable and varied experience at such a young age. I want to be a Premier League player. For me, I think it's the best and the toughest league in the world. And you always want to be playing against the best players in the world."



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2022/04/ill-be-going-back-to-liverpool-says-williams/