Monday Fulham Stuff - 06/06/22...

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"Resistance will be tested" – Carlton Palmer delivers verdict on Coventry's chances of keeping hold of Fulham and Middlesbrough target

Coventry City will be hoping that they can continue their steady rise up the Championship table when the new second-tier campaign gets underway at the end of July.

Finishing 16th during their return to the division during the 2020/21 campaign, and 12th last time out, they will undoubtedly be setting their sights on challenging for a play-off spot.

Given the quality within the squad, interest has already surfaced in some of their talented individuals, with Viktor Gyokeres emerging as a man in demand.

When asked if he could see Gyokeres departing this summer, Carlton Palmer told FLW: "I'm sure Mark Robins will be looking to add to his squad, not looking to sell any players.

"But again, at the end of the day, if somebody came in with a 15 million offer or 18 million, I'm sure Coventry resistance will be tested."

The verdict

Gyokeres enjoyed an excellent season within the Coventry front line last season, showing glimpses of pure excellence during the campaign.

Displaying his knack for scoring goals, as well as excellent link-up play and levels of physicality, he is certainly someone who could play a big part in the future at the Coventry Building Society Arena and grow with the ambitions of the club.

However, it is likely that interest will continue to mount in the 23-year-old, with his ceiling proving to be exceptionally high.

Coventry have several integral individuals at the club who could continue to attract the transfer interest of many as the summer window picks up pace.




https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/resistance-will-be-tested-carlton-palmer-delivers-verdict-on-coventrys-chances-of-keeping-hold-of-fulham-and-middlesbrough-target/

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Wales seal place at 2022 World Cup as playoff final win ends Ukraine hopes

This was never going to be an occasion short of lasting images. Perhaps the most memorable from a night Wales will always treasure was the sight of Gareth Bale singing along to Yma o Hyd as the entire squad, some wearing tricolour bucket hats that are a nod to their last appearance at a World Cup in 1958, all moonlighting as Dafydd Iwan's backing choir, swayed to the soundtrack of their journey to Qatar. Tony Roberts, the goalkeeping coach who rushed to Wayne Hennessey at the final whistle following his heroic performance and led the team on an impromptu conga down the tunnel, played the role of conductor. After a glossary of painful near-misses, Wales will again play on the world stage after edging out Ukraine in a nail-biting and fraught playoff final.

From Bale being deep in conversation with Oleksandr Zinchenko seconds after the final whistle to all four sides of this stadium applauding Ukraine as they trudged off the pitch, emotions were, understandably, in overdrive. Then there was Aaron Ramsey pulling his shirt over his head, fresh from clutching his son, wearing a replica No 10 shirt, in his arms. Connor Roberts collapsed to the floor and repeatedly punched the air in a state of disbelief. Daniel James piggy-backed a member of backroom staff. Bale blew kisses towards his family, Robert Page beat his chest.

Perhaps the moment reality struck was when Wales' players suddenly surged from the halfway line to slide on their torsos en masse before the Canton Stand, home to the "Red Wall", though Ben Davies and Jonny Williams, busy celebrating at the opposite end of the stadium, had some ground to make up. That came after Ukraine's players went over to a corner where their 1,700 fans were housed. A communal thunder clap of sorts followed and thousands of home supporters joined in what was another moving moment. Ukraine's players displayed a flag scribbled with handwritten messages from soldiers in their dressing room. The Football Association of Wales, who think qualification is worth around £10m, also gave 100 tickets to Ukrainian refugees.

For Page, sticking with Hennessey was a big call but ultimately an inspired one. The 35-year-old Burnley goalkeeper, who celebrated his 100th cap for his country in March, made a series of improbable saves, some more mind-bending than others, the pick of the bunch surely the sprawling left-hand stop to deny the substitute Artem Dovbyk heading in Vitalii Mykolenko's cross late on. Ben Davies was outstanding in defence and there was no way Neco Williams was going to be on the losing side, throwing his body on the line into five minutes of second-half stoppage time to prevent Andriy Yarmolenko from finding an equaliser. It seemed cruel that Yarmolenko's first-half own goal, from a devilish Bale free-kick, would prove the difference. Ukraine must somehow regroup, while Wales can start preparing for England, Iran and USA in Group B.

Immediately after the goal, Davies tapped his temples, urging calm among his teammates, and with good reason. Ukraine were desperately unlucky not be in front and should have had a first-half penalty. From the moment Zinchenko had a quick free-kick disallowed on three minutes, they panicked Wales and the midfielder Ruslan Malinovskyi picked holes in the home defence. Davies embodied Wales's spirit. The defender made a block with 15 minutes to play when Yarmolenko side-footed the ball goalwards after Ukraine scooped the ball into the box.

At the same time, a minute earlier Wales could have doubled their advantage. The substitute Brennan Johnson, who will surely play a big part at the finals, struck a post and seconds later, after another surge by Johnson, Bale was denied by the Ukraine goalkeeper Georgiy Bushchan after meeting Ramsey's twirling cross. Ramsey was also guilty of missing a wonderful opening early in the second half, placing his shot wide after collecting Kieffer Moore's centre.

Iwan, the Welsh folk singer, was moved up the pecking order before kick-off and received a hero's welcome before his first rendition of Yma o Hyd. Ukraine's players, who again sung the national anthem draped in their national flags, were applauded by the Welsh fans who had a front-row seat of their final warmup shuttle runs. "Tonight, now is our time," predicted the stadium announcer before an inevitably stirring rendition of Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau. How he was right.

Ukraine's head coach, Oleksandr Petrakov, his glasses condensed with rainwater and jacket sodden, had no complaints with his team but could feel aggrieved at how, five minutes before the break, the video assistant referee did not tell the referee, Antonio Mateu Lahoz, to take a closer look at a collision between Joe Allen and Yarmolenko. Allen, caught cold by Yarmolenko's shuffle towards the ball, clearly clipped the Ukraine captain's heels in the box but play instead continued. Moments earlier, Hennessey rushed across to his near post to keep out a rattled drive at goal from Zinchenko. Wales rode their luck, but they will fly their flag in Qatar. There was a feverish atmosphere before kick-off and nothing remotely close to a lull from start to finish.




https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/jun/05/wales-ukraine-world-cup-2022-playoff-final-match-report

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Neco Williams' perfect 12-word message after Wales secure historic World Cup place

Neco Williams was part of the Wales side that qualified for the World Cup after defeating Ukraine in Cardiff on Sunday

Neco Williams is celebrating this evening after Wales ended a 64-year wait to qualify for the World Cup finals with a nervy 1-0 victory over Ukraine in Cardiff on Sunday.

The Liverpool defender played at left-back for Rob Page's side and was more than delighted to see Gareth Bale's 34th-minute free-kick deflected into his own net by Andriy Yarmolenko. But Ukraine were not prepared to go quietly and after having a goal disallowed they were unfortunate not to be awarded a penalty when ex-Red Joe Allen appear to take the legs of Yarmolenko in his own box. VAR did not offer the visitors a justified outcome.

Despite unbearable late pressure from Ukraine, a series of blocks from Ben Davies and one particularly brilliant save from Wayne Hennessey ensured that Wales would be playing in Qatar this winter. Williams, who was substituted late on, ran onto the pitch at full time and celebrated wildly with his teammates.

The result marked a double success this campaign for the 21-year-old, who spent the second half of the season on loan with Fulham, helping the West London side to finish Championship title winners and return to the Premier League.

Sharing his joy after the match, Williams Tweeted a photo of himself drinking a beer with Welsh captain Gareth Bale, saying: "WE ARE GOING TO A WORLD CUP A DREAM COME TRUE. WOW."

WE ARE GOING TO A WORLD CUP A DREAM COME TRUE 🌎🏆 WOW pic.twitter.com/KjJtgPeB26

— Neco Williams (@necowilliams01) June 5, 2022

Wales will now enter the Qatar World Cup in Group B, where they will face USA, Iran and home nations rivals England. Former Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen, also expressed his happiness after the match. Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: "It's hard to put into words. We've been dreaming of this for a long time now.

"We've had to ride our luck at time, call on Wayne (Hennessey) and defend for our lives, but let the celebrations begin. I'd love to say we were calm, it was tough, I got booked early on but I think we got it together. We've come a very long way, we want to make sure this carries on. The quality has gone through the roof, and a World Cup will be incredible to see."



https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/williams-wales-world-cup-liverpool-24151937

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Premier League new boys Nottingham Forest, Fulham and Bournemouth 'are all eyeing a deal for England-born Hungary star Callum Styles after his impressive display in Nations League win over Three Lions'

    Callum Styles was born in Bury but plays his international football for Hungary
    He came on as a late substitute as his side beat England 1-0 on Saturday night
    The 22-year-old has played 100 times for Barnsley across the past four years
    All three newly promoted Premier League sides are 'interested in signing Styles'

England-born Hungary star Callum Styles is 'hoping for a Premier League move' after impressing against England on Saturday.

The 22-year-old came on as a substitute as Hungary beat a lacklustre England 1-0 in Budapest. It was Hungary's first win over the Three Lions since 1962.

Styles has made over 100 appearances for Barnsley, and scored three times in 19 Championship appearances for the club last season.


Callum Styles came on as a substitute in Hungary's 1-0 win over England on Saturday

Reports in The Mirror suggest he is being targeted by the three clubs promoted to the Premier League ahead of next season: Fulham, Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest.

His outing against England's Premier League stars will surely put him in good stead ahead of the upcoming transfer window.

In quotes carried by The Mirror, Styles said: 'Our team has really, really good players also and the standard is very good, so that is obviously going to help push my dream of becoming a Premier League player.

'Me and the club have spoke and we think it is the best time to move on. I just need to sit down with my agent and see what is on the table.

'Fingers crossed somebody will come in with an offer because I want to play at the top and the club have said that's how they see it as well, so hopefully it will be an easy process.'

Styles came on as an 82nd minute substitute at the Puskas arena as Hungary successfully clung on to their lead.

He continued: 'I have to sometimes take a step back and take it all in because I never thought I would be playing against England.

'And to come on and for us to win the game is just different, like. I am struggling to grasp but I am enjoying the experience.'

The midfielder also mentioned his support for England in the past. He said: 'I have cheered England on in the past - I've been to quite a few games - so to be on the same pitch playing against them - and winning. That's amazing.'

'These experiences can only help, you wouldn't get at club level and the calibre of player you play against is the most elite in the world.'




https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-10887617/Nottingham-Forest-Fulham-Bournemouth-eyeing-England-born-Hungary-star-Callum-Styles.html

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Fulham and Bournemouth join Nottingham Forest in transfer pursuit of 22-year-old international

Fulham and Bournemouth are the latest two clubs that have been credited with an interest in Barnsley's Callum Styles, as per a report from the Mirror.

This follows a report from the Yorkshire Post yesterday that revealed that Nottingham Forest and Hungarian side Ferencvaros are both considering moves for the 22-year-old.

Winning Young Player of the Season at the EFL awards during the 2020/21 Championship campaign, Styles has proven to possess an incredibly high ceiling.

Displaying that he is very much a versatile option, Styles has operated in several different roles during his Barnsley career, featuring in both wing-back positions, central midfield, on the wing, and as a number 10.

Now a Hungarian international, after recently finding out he qualifies through his grandmother, Styles came on as an 82nd-minute substitute during their 1-0 victory over England on Saturday.

The verdict

An exciting talent who has displayed exactly how good he can be in the Championship, it is no surprise that Premier League interest is surfacing in him.

A crafty and creative operator, with excellent levels of intelligence and maturity, Styles is a player who will be way beyond the standard at League One, and at 22 years of age, he has the potential to reach some excellent heights.

The versatility he has shown over the years will be a big tick in the box for the clubs in pursuit, and something that will bolster his chances of securing his Premier League dream.

If the three Premier League clubs, and Ferencvaros opt against making a move, then top-level Championship interest will surely emerge.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/fulham-and-bournemouth-join-nottingham-forest-in-transfer-pursuit-of-22-year-old-international/

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Bournemouth, Fulham, Nottingham Forest all keen on Callum Styles

Bournemouth, Fulham and Nottingham Forest are targeting a summer move for Barnsley and Hungary man Callum Styles, reports Mirror.

Styles, 22, was relegated from the Championship with Barnsley last season. His side finished rock-bottom of the Championship table but the Hungarian international could yet land a Premier League move this summer.

He featured in his national side's 1-0 win over England on Saturday. Speaking after the game, the England-born Styles revealed his dream of playing in the Premier League, and Mirror have now linked all three promoted teams with the midfielder.

Fulham and Bournemouth earned automatic promotion from the Championship last season whilst Nottingham Forest went up via the play-offs.

Earlier in the Year, Alan Nixon revealed in The Sun on Sunday (19.12.21, pg. 69) that Styles was on the radar of Celtic, but there's been no news on that front since.

Barnsley remain without a manager following the departure of Poya Asbaghi towards the end of last season, but reports suggest that the Tykes are closing in on a new head coach.

First of many?

For Barnsley, their relegation could mean that Styles is the first of many to leave this summer. For the previous two Championship seasons, Styles was a key player for Barnsley and he featured heavily, missing only five league fixtures across the two campaigns.

Now, the former Bury man has the chance to seal a potential Premier League move and for Barnsley, their best option might be to cash in and put the money towards a summer rebuild in League One, in what will be a tightly contested third tier next season.

Styles is certainly a player with potential and his showing against England will have done him no harm in pursuit of a Premier League move.



https://the72.co.uk/275020/bournemouth-fulham-nottingham-forest-all-keen-on-callum-styles/

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Congratulations to Rodrigo Muniz on his marriage to Jady Meyrelles

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