Monday Fulham Stuff - 08/08/22...

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Results

Sunday
Leicester	2-2	Brentford
Man Utd	1-2	Brighton
West Ham	0-2	Man City

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Magic Mitrovic nets twice as Fulham hold Liverpool to 2-2 draw

Aleksandar Mitrovic's brace of goals was cancelled out by strikes from Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah as newly promoted Fulham held Liverpool to a 2-2 draw by in the sides' opening game of the Premier League season at Craven Cottage on Saturday.

The home side took the lead on 32 minutes when they broke down the right, and Kenny Tete's cross was met by the bustling Mitrovic, who out-jumped Trent Alexander-Arnold at the far post to head home.

Luis Diaz came close to levelling a few minutes later, flashing a shot across the face of the goal, but the ball bounced back off the far post as last season's runners-up struggled to deal with Fulham's physicality in the opening 45 minutes.

Fulham almost doubled their advantage in the 57th minute as the ball was worked out to the right and Neeskens Kebano unleashed a thunderous shot that smacked off the far post.

Tipped to be among the title challengers again this year, Liverpool's fortunes turned with the introduction of new signing Nunez in the second half, and the Uruguayan wasted no time in showing why Liverpool paid Benfica an initial €75 million (R128 billion) for his services.

Nunez tried to tee up his strike partners shortly after coming on before levelling with a brilliant flicked finish just after the hour mark.

Despite having barely threatened after the break, Fulham were soon back in front as Mitrovic, who scored 43 goals in 44 Championship games last season, was tripped in the box by Virgil van Dijk, and the striker stepped up to stroke home from the penalty spot to make it 2-1.

However, Liverpool refused to capitulate and Salah put them level again, poking home from close range. Jordan Henderson almost grabbed all three points for the visitors with a stoppage-time strike but his shot came back off the crossbar.

"We showed fantastic organisation from the start until the end of the match. And the plan was clear for our players and they did it really well," Fulham coach Marco Silva told BT Sport.

Liverpool coach Juergen Klopp was glad to get out of the game with a point, but he had some harsh words for his side's effort on their opening day of the season.

"The result is fine, I don't think we deserve more than that. But the performance is massively improvable," he told BT Sport.



https://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/soccer/2022-08-07-magic-mitrovic-nets-twice-as-fulham-hold-liverpool-to-2-2-draw/

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Bobby: That's The Benchmark

Liverpool must be sick to death of Bobby De Cordova-Reid.

An integral reason for our four points against the Reds two years ago, he was a thorn in their side once again as we drew 2-2 at the Cottage on opening day.

But how much does it say about Fulham, that many were upset not to take all three points against one of the title favourites?

"I think it says a lot," Bobby told the official website. "We've come a long way to be disappointed with only a point against Liverpool.

"It's something that we can be proud of, but at the same time, we need to be getting the three points on the board.

"I think we did well, everyone pulled together. It showed how far we've come, now we've got to build on it and go again next week.

"We know the confidence and belief we have in our squad, and the quality we have in our squad. We showed that, it wasn't to be but we got one point, so we move on."

De Cordova-Reid and Neeskens Kebano were given the nod on the wings on Saturday, and carried on the form they showed last season, causing Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson no end of grief.

"It's always nice to be on the pitch playing, with your teammates behind you and backing you up," Bobby said. "I tried to be dynamic and creative, and I feel like everyone's on song at the moment, and if we continue like that we'll pick up a lot of points as the season goes on.

"I think if everyone pulls together individually with their performances then as a collective we'll be okay.

"I do feel like we have something together, as a group, and I feel everyone's confident of staying in the league and doing big things.

"We take it game by game, and the way we played against Liverpool has got to be the benchmark for every match."

Another who carried their Championship form into the new season was Aleksandar Mitrović, who quickly poured cold water on the myth that he can't compete at the top level.

"Listen, we know what quality Mitro has," De Cordova-Reid stated. "He's a goal scorer.

"He might not be having the best of games sometimes but we always know he's going to be dangerous in the box, for both boxes.

"We know what quality he brings, and if we feed him we know he'll score."



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2022/august/07/bobby-thats-the-benchmark/

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Sources: Leicester City star Jannik Vestergaard rejects Fulham offer

Leicester City defender Jannik Vestergaard has rejected a move to Fulham, sources have told Football Insider.

This site revealed on Saturday morning (6 August) that the Foxes have accepted a bid for the Denmark international, 30, from the London outfit.

But Vestergaard has knocked back a potential transfer to Fulham in what is a crushing blow in their centre-back search.

It is understood he is not keen on a move to Craven Cottage.

It is also a setback for Leicester, who are trying to raise funds for their own signings without selling prize assets James Maddison and Wesley Fofana.

Leicester have now granted Fulham permission to discuss personal terms with Vestergaard.

Should a full agreement be secured, the transfer could be completed soon.

Vestergaard, who joined Leicester last summer (2021) for a reported £15million, made just six league starts in the 2021-22 campaign.

He has amassed 82 appearances in the English top flight following his arrival at Southampton in 2018.

Brendan Rodgers is also fielding interest in another centre-back, with Wesley Fofana a reported £85million target for Chelsea.

The Foxes are the only Premier League side yet to make a signing this summer.

They are suffering under financial fair play regulations and must sell before they can buy.

Fulham drew 2-2 with Liverpool in their first game back in the Premier League (6 August).

Aleksandar Mitrovic twice had the Cottagers in the lead as the Reds responded through Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah.



https://www.footballinsider247.com/sources-leicester-city-star-jannik-vestergaard-rejects-fulham-offer/

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Fulham hilariously TROLL Jurgen Klopp on Twitter after his 'dry pitch' comments following Liverpool's 2-2 draw at Craven Cottage in Premier League opener... as they joke the playing surface is 'lush' alongside a picture of them watering it

    Fulham and Liverpool played out a 2-2 draw at Craven Cottage yesterday
    Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp blamed Fulham's 'dry pitch' for the result
    Fulham responded on Twitter, posting an image of the pitch being watered
    Klopp has often directed blame at obscure factors after poor results in the past

Fulham's Twitter account has mocked Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp for his comments after the sides' 2-2 draw at Craven Cottage on Saturday.

Liverpool twice had to come from behind to earn a point at newly-promoted Fulham and Klopp was full of excuses for his team's below-par performance.

Klopp moaned after the game that 'the pitch was dry', and now Fulham have poked fun at the German, posting an image of the pitch being watered with the caption: 'The Craven Cottage turf looking absolutely lush yesterday'.

Klopp described the result as 'massively improvable' whilst complaining that his side helped Fulham out with their showing away from home.

He said: 'The attitude was not right in the beginning, then we wanted to fight back, but you don't find it easy anymore.

'The pitch was dry, we played into their cards. The result is fine, I don't think we deserve more than that.'

Klopp has infamously directed blame at some obscure factors after poor results in the past, ranging from wind to television broadcasters.

This time, Fulham weren't about to take the comments laying down, and subtly responded on social media to a chorus of laughs from fans.

'Well this qualifies for Sunday morning vawulence. Play on...' commented one Twitter user.

'Are those Klopp's tears?' replied another.

Marco Silva's side impressed on their return to the top flight, twice leading before having to settle for a draw.

Aleksandar Mitrovic gave Fulham the lead in the first half with a smart header at the back post before Darwin Nunez pulled Liverpool level on his Premier League debut.

Mitrovic then scored from the spot after he was tripped by Virgil van Dijk, but a defensive error allowed Mohamed Salah to square things up again.

Jordan Henderson hit the woodwork for Liverpool in stoppage time, but Fulham seemed pleased with their point - and pitch - in their first game back.



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-11089147/Fulham-hilariously-TROLL-Liverpool-manager-Jurgen-Klopp-Twitter-dry-pitch-comments.html

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Starting as we mean to go on

Yesterday's draw with Liverpool was some occasion. The Cottage was bouncing even before kick off thanks to someone's inspired decision to play a bit of 'Freed from Desire' as the time ticked around towards 12.30pm. The introduction of 'We're back banners' continued a carnival atmosphere as the teams walked out, but there was always the fear that the quality of the Champions' League runners-up could carve through a side that rewarded some of Marco Silva's Championship heroes and introduced a couple of his summer signings. We shouldn't have worried.

The result was genuinely historic, too. It was the first time Fulham had avoided defeat in their opening fixture after being promotion to the top tier of English football. They were beaten by Wolves in 1949, battered 4-0 by Blackburn a decade later, came gloriously close to shocking Manchester United but eventually succumbed in a five-goal thriller in 2001, were swatted aside clinically by Crystal Palace in 2018 and outclassed by Arsenal in 2020. As Tristan Poturicic tweeted last night, it is also the first time Fulham have not lost their first home league fixture after making it to the top flight. Whenever the Whites have lost, they've been relegated at the end of the season. Those are good omens.

It seems preposterous to be a bit disappointed with a point against the second best side in Europe, but that's how it felt after a defensive mix-up handed Mo Salah a simple tap in. Considering I would have bitten your arm off for a draw in the run up to the game, it shows just how impressive Silva's side were. I have to confess to being a bit concerned about the Portuguese head coach's selection, but all of his decisions were justified by how the ninety minutes played out. Marek Rodak made only one save – but it was a magnificent relax stop to deny Darwin Nunez his preferred chipped finish. Kenny Tete had comfortably his best game in a Fulham shirt and supplied a sensational cross for the Whites to take the lead. Tim Ream might have made an error that led to the second goal, but turned in a captain's display.

You felt the game would hinge on how Fulham started and they began better than any of us could have imagined. Aleksandar Mitrovic should have shot us outside inside the first three minutes after Bobby Decordova-Reid had closed down Trent Alexander-Arnold, but on a day when the Serbian did literally everything right, it seems foolish to quibble about his finishing. Mitrovic's brace hogged the headlines, but the crucial contributions came courtesy of Harrison Reed and Joao Palhinha in the engine room. The hipsters call this a 'double pivot' these days but Palhinha, a Portuguese tank to rival in the T-90-MS, had no time for any niceties. He was everywhere disrupting any Liverpool rhythm in the middle of the park and Reed's energy is so ceaseless that his own covering of the ground is largely unremarkable.

Andreas Pereira had an enterprising debut, darting into pockets of space from the number ten role, and getting beyond Mitrovic regularly. Neeskens Kebano was outstanding for 65 minutes and desperately unlucky not to double the lead when his low drive came back off the inside of the post: when the Congolese winger departed, Manor Solomon stepped up and set Mitrovic free for the penalty, where he twisted Virgin van Dijk this way and that, before inducing an ill-time dangling of his leg by the bewildered Dutch centre back. it was the first time since he came to England that van Dijk had been dribbled past and considered a penalty in the same game.

It was some effort to continue the intensity against an outside like Liverpool, who – even though they looked really off-colour – were still going to have spells where they penned the hosts back. Ream, whose position in the senior squad has been debated over social media all summer, did brilliantly to hook a goalbound effort off the line and such was his dominance of Roberto Formino that the Brazilian was hooked early in the second period. Fulham never give and certainly don't look like a pushover on this evidence.

Much of the commentary in the run up to this game centred around Mitrovic and whether he would be good enough to trouble top flight defences. It is all bunk given that he is Serbia's top goalscorer and cannot be considered merely a target man. Lianne Sanderson was the latest talking head to embarrass herself yesterday, but she had plenty of company. Fulham now play to the number nine's strengths inside of leaving him out entirely – which does help. His towering header at the back post completed a gorgeous move to give the Whites the lead and you could tell he was enjoying himself when he left Jordan Henderson in a heap on the floor and executed a Cruyff turn that befuddled van Dijk. He produced a joyous jink to win the spot-kick, which he converted himself, to move eighth in the list of Fulham's all-time goalscorers, two short of a century.

First impressions can be misleading – but starting strongly has been a Silva mantra. They might have given everyone else a roadmap of how to rattle Liverpool. Jurgen Klopp was certainly steaming, suggesting the Craven Cottage pitch was too dry, an excuse almost up there with his response to the Whites' last Premier League win, at Anfield in 2021. There, Klopp suggested Fulham were long ball merchants – only to be informed that the Opto stats said his side had delivered more of them. It is vital to keep our feet on the ground, but this was an enthralling appetiser for Silva service at the top table. It definitely won't be dull.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2022/08/starting-as-we-mean-to-go-on/

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Positives and negatives: Fulham 2-2 Liverpool

Premier League football is back, baby. Cam's returns to recap an exceptional result that nobody saw coming.

The opening day of the 2022/23 campaign couldn't have gone any better, really. Under beating hot suns down by the river, Marco Silva's Fulham spoiled Jurgen Klopp's visit to the capital with a performance that proved the Whites are ready for the gruelling schedule ahead and we, as we already know, are in very capable hands.

Liverpool travelled to SW6 with three points being more or less guaranteed. 12:30pm kick-offs aren't always kind to the Whites but daringly, the hosts rallied to ruin 12-fold accumulators and boy, was it a thriller. Silva still wants to see more signings come through the door, perhaps we don't have the required depth as yet but if Fulham continue in the same rebellious vein, a season of sheer excitement is surely upon us. Points shared, salty Scousers, it's the smaller things in life that satisfy us the most.

Positives
Fulham were unbelievable

The best team in Europe, if not the world, was comprehensively outplayed and outfought by lowly little Fulham. Silva's Whites took the game to Liverpool from the very first second with an intense high press, the visitors found it difficult to quell the hosts' determination, and if we approach each game with the same attitude, safety won't be an issue.

Before kick-off, camped in Putney bars and on the streets, Fulham fans and Liverpool supporters alike anticipated a walkover; Klopp's Reds were going to run amok and compound the Whites to a ruthless pasting. But collectively, to a man, Fulham were the overriding force to be reckoned with. Liverpool didn't have things all their own way and they simply couldn't establish a convincing stranglehold because Fulham refused to grant them the resect they so readily demand. The media branded this encounter a mismatch, a free-hit, and an occasion Fulham can count themselves out of although in reality, it was the newly-promoted Championship champions that held the headlines hostage.

Klopp snarled and scoffed in his post-match press conference. He berated the playing conditions and contested that his side underperformed, but in hindsight as he sips his Sunday morning coffee, he'll surely appreciate and recognise Fulham's overpowering dominance. Liverpool effectively dropped two points not because they were undercooked; honours remained even because the Whites didn't allow them the time and space to flaunt their praiseworthy superiority.

Andreas Peirera led the charge, Joao Palhinha steadied the narrative, our debutants clearly understood the assignment, and household names such as Bobby Decordova-Reid and Neeskens Kebano endorsed a defiance that constricted our guests' lunchtime comfort. Each and every player is deserving of credit, some outings stood out more than others, admittedly, however upon our return to Premier League matters, faced with the toughest of tests imaginable, Fulham showcased a version of themselves that persisted with focus and dedication and they weren't to be swallowed up. Fulham weren't just combative, they were honestly unbelievable in every department and they seriously frustrated a team that are bona fide favourites to lift multiple trophies this season.

Mitro hushes critics
Tell me, how does it go again? Aleksandar Mitrovic can't do it in the Premier League, he's a one-trick pony that's predictable and containable. But those who've upheld such ridiculous opinions are looking extremely stupid and now – and we're obliged to rub their noses in it. With Virgil van Dijk to navigate, our record-breaking striker laid down the law and with the revered Dutchman tucked in his back pocket, the Serb dispatched a clinical brace to hush his misinformed critics. Fired up, fixated on causing a ruckus in the final third, Mitro set about his day's work with diligence and commitment, he resembled a man that was compelled to restore his top-flight reputation and nobody can argue against or dispute his goal-laden capabilities.

A towering header at the back stick ignited proceedings, Trent Alexander Arnold was powerless as Mitro climbed highest and midway through the second half, having been felled in the penalty area, the 27-year-old slammed home a spot kick to reaffirm his command. Neither van Dijk or Joel Matip could wrangle Aleksandar, he was assertive in close contention, he was aware of his position in open space and he posed substantial problems from the get-go.

Mitrovic is going to be a handful this season; centre-halves are going to be examined by his bullish industry and if footballing royalty cannot restrain and suppress a player that apparently isn't worthy, then what hope do other unwitting defensive pairings have? I fear for centre-backs across the country, Mitro is a predator not many can tame and when he senses even the slightest measure of doubt, nobody is safe. He demonised the visitors' back line, and it certainly won't be the last time he condemns opposing defences to an afternoon from hell. Better the devil you know.

Robinson bust a gut
Having to mark Mohamed Salah is not a prospect intended for the fainthearted. Venerated as one of world football's finest attackers, Salah has confronted numerous full-backs on the elite stage, and on Saturday afternoon, Antonee Robinson had the privilege of shadowing Liverpool's Egyptian phenom and I have to say, our American left-back conducted himself tremendously. To nullify Salah's offensive activity, Robinson would have to remain sharp, and once Salah believed he'd stolen a march on the run of play, Jedi was in hot pursuit. The powers Robinson possesses were supercharged along the left, he snuffed out impending danger proactively and with the ball, the mobile fullback rotated possession calmly and constructively.

It's strange, but Robinson's better suited to the Premier League than he is the Championship. He's an athlete; his engine's finely tuned for the non-stop rigours of top-flight football and in esteemed company, the former Everton man made his presence known. Silva's gradually transformed Antonee into a relatively trustworthy component, I've no doubt he'll fall short of the mark at some points this season but he was unfazed by Liverpool's fluent advancements and he was undeterred when he was asked to contribute to Fulham's attacking ventures. Of course, there were plenty of outstanding performances to pick and choose from but for me, there's no better example than Robinson because for all his flaws and deficiencies, he stuck to his guns against a side that could've ripped him apart. His dignity's intact, my personal impression of him is softening and he can hold his head up high knowing he left everything on the turf.

Tim passed the test
Another player who allegedly isn't cut out for Premier League football is Tim Ream. Throughout the summer, Fulham fans have pined after genuine quality to waltz through the gates at Motspur Park and while Ream arguably completed his best season in Fulham colours last term, the veteran American is always overlooked when top-flight football beckons. At 34, Ream is supposedly well past his best years, but against Liverpool proven goal-getters Roberto Firmino and Darwin Nunez, Captain America held his own and limited the Reds to a shallow premium of clear-cut opportunities. As ever, under immense pressure at times, Ream and Tosin combined to relinquish the visitors aerial threats but it was Tim that really impressed. After all the conjecture surrounding his importance, he was conscious to the weight of the task at hand and while I'll openly agree that we definitely require reinforcements, he portrayed some of his best attributes and his influence was undoubtedly settling.

With the ball, Ream studied the pitch for sensible inroads and outlets and he was rarely rushed. He manipulated the tempo at the back and he prompted Liverpool to chase shadows, and when he had to cover ground to defuse awkward situations where rogue runners had broken free, he showed a remarkable turn of pace, even by his standards. Ream has been here before, this isn't his first Premier League rodeo and though you can't necessarily teach an old dog new tricks, he's certainly wise to the hardships of top-flight football and perhaps at a lessened capacity once another centre-back is purchased or once Shane Duffy acclimatizes to Silva's demands, Ream could still be a fairly important piece of our relegation-battling puzzle. You should never disregard Tim, because as he demonstrated against a heavyweight superpower in Liverpool, he can still put more than a persuasive shift in when we need him to contribute.

Negatives

Not today, thanks
Considering we all thought a draw was basically impossible to achieve in the run-up, how could I possibly pick holes in a performance that dramatically exceeded our expectations? We're off the mark with a hard-earned point and we got Klopp chomping like a starving cannibal. Negatives? Not today, thanks.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2022-08-07-positives-and-negatives-fulham-2-2-liverpool/

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Fulham agree deal to sign Jannik Vestergaard

Fulham have reportedly reached an agreement with Premier League rival Leicester City to sign 30-year-old centre-back Jannik Vestergaard.

According to Football Insider, Fulham are closing in on the capture of Danish central defender Jannik Vestergaard from Leicester City after agreeing a deal with their Premier League counterparts as they consider backing away from signing West Ham United's Issa Diop.

The 30-year-old first arrived in England in 2018, joining Southampton from Borussia Monchengladbach in a £22 million deal. Vestergaard made 79 appearances across all competitions for the Saints over the next three seasons before joining Leicester City last summer in a £15 million move.

However, the move has not gone as planned, as the Dane has struggled to make an impression at the King Power Stadium, making only ten Premier League appearances last season, four of which came off the bench. Vestergaard has slipped down the pecking order, and with the Foxes finding themselves in a difficult financial situation, it seems they are ready to cut their losses and offload Vestergaard.

Leicester City have been open to offers for the Danish international all summer, and interest from within the Premier League has emerged for the former Southampton defender, with Fulham interested in securing his services as manager Marco Silva looks to bring more power and top-flight experience at the back.

The 30-year-old centre-back still has three years left on his contract with Leicester, but it appears Fulham are ready to hand him as an escape route from the King Power Stadium this summer. Marco Silva's side have had a bid accepted by Leicester for the Danish international, with only personal terms left to be sorted out to reach a full agreement with all parties involved.

Despite the arrival of Shane Duffy on a season-long loan deal, Fulham are in the market for another centre-back and have already sounded out moves for Malang Sarr, Issa Diop and Vestergaard. However, with West Ham United demanding around £20 million for Diop, the deal fell through, and Fulham moved on to explore other, presumably cheaper targets.

Vestergaard certainly fits that bill for a cut-price fee. While he may have struggled to find his feet under Brendan Rodgers at Leicester, the Dane comes with extensive Premier League experience, having previously enjoyed a successful stint at Southampton. Known for his aerial dominance, tackling and ball interception, he also has ball-playing attributes which could see him being an upgrade on Tim Ream.



http://www.thehardtackle.com/transfer-news/2022/08/07/fulham-agree-deal-to-sign-jannik-vestergaard/

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Olds scores six as Fulham Women go goal crazy

It isn't just Aleksandar Mitrovic who is on fire at the moment. Ellie Olds scored six goals this afternoon as Fulham Women thrashed London City Lionesses' development squad 10-2 at Motspur Park in their penultimate pre-season friendly.

Steve Jaye's side were in an unforgiving mood from the start. Midfielder Georgia Heasman put the Whites in front on ten minutes, before Olds – the scorer of an important equaliser against AFC Wimbledon earlier this month – opened her account seven minutes later. Lily Lambird, fresh from her summer exploits in the United States, made it three before Olds added her second on the half hour.

Helen Ogle grabbed the fifth with eight minutes left until the break and the Lionesses pulled one back before the half-time whistle. The pace of the game slowed significantly after the interval, but Fulham continued to carry a real threat in the final third. An own goal made it six before Olds completed her hat-trick just two minutes later having been played in by Ogle.

The visitors pulled another goal back before Olds scored her fourth to make it 8-2. The red-hot forward scored two more strikes in the space of three minutes to take Fulham's tally into double figures and round off an unforgettable afternoon.

Fulham Women have one more pre-season friendly against Ascot Ladies at Ascot Racecourse Sports Ground on Sunday 14 August, with kick off at 3pm. The Whites begin their league campaign away at newly-promoted Sutton United on Sunday 21 August.




https://hammyend.com/index.php/2022/08/olds-scores-six-as-fulham-women-go-goal-crazy/

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Fulham showing what is right with football can't hide dark clouds over the Premier League
The league retains a huge gap between the haves and have nots, exacerbated by the influence of state-funded ownership models.

It is the best walk in football. Out of Putney Bridge station, up Ranelagh Gardens, through the underpass, through Bishops Park with the Thames to your left and the sun overhead, past rows of pristine Victorian and Edwardian terraced housing and towards Craven Cottage, which even in the midst of major redevelopment remains a beautifully quaint sporting venue. There really is nothing like going to Fulham on a summer's day.

And so it was on Saturday as the club hosted Premier League football for the first time since sweeping to the Championship title last season. It was a glorious afternoon in west London, perfect in many ways, and the excitement was tangible. Liverpool were in town, this was what it meant to be back in the big time, and it was impossible not to get swept up in it all among the shiny happy supporters of both clubs as they walked the walk to the ground.

But yet, even there and then, it was impossible to escape the dark clouds. Because once you stand back a bit, throw away the preview supplements, delete the sponsored podcasts and ignore the weather just for a moment, there is little denying that the Premier League appears to be in pretty bad place right now.

There remains a huge, seemingly unbridgeable gap between the haves and have nots, exacerbated by the influence of state-funded ownership models. Speaking of which, this is also Newcastle's first full season under Saudi rule, a takeover which, let's not forget, was described by Amnesty International as "an extremely bitter blow for human rights defenders" when it was waved through last October.

There are then the rising concerns over fan behaviour, the continued ubiquity of gambling companies, issues around racist abuse on social media and, of course, a World Cup taking place in the middle of the campaign, as disruptive as it is distasteful given where it is being held. The World Cup has also meant "the football" coming back earlier than it should have — let's face it, we could have done with at least another week off.

Three decades since the creation of the Premier League it can so often feel like we're in the second act of a dystopian thriller, when the murderous machines have taken over and everyone is waiting for a hero to save the day. But football being football, there are regularly moments to remind you that for all its faults and failures, it remains an utterly captivating sport. And Saturday afternoon at Craven Cottage was very much one of those occasions, and not just because of the route to get there.

A match broke out and it was magnificent. Fulham showed no fear against opponents who were meant to rip them apart, performing with organisation, aggression and purpose from the outset and twice taking the lead through goals from the outstanding Aleksandar Mitrovic: the first a powerful, towering header; the second a wickedly struck penalty that he won himself via a quick-footed run that led to that rarest of things, Virgil van Dijk being bamboozled.

Liverpool were poor, sloppy in defence and lacklustre in attack, and even Jürgen Klopp, that most loyal of managers, could not hold back in his criticism of his players, going as far as to question their attitude. "The performance needs massive improvement," he said. "We did the opposite of what we wanted to do." It was a sentiment shared by the captain, Jordan Henderson. "We can play a lot better," the midfielder said. "We're disappointed with the performance."

To the visitors' credit, they showed the requisite character and quality to rescue a point, equalising first through a lovely backheel finish from the hugely impressive Darwin Núñez and then via an instinctive close-range strike from Mohamed Salah, the Egyptian's sixth successive goal on opening weekends and his eighth in total, a joint Premier League-record. It was breathless stuff played amid a raucous atmosphere, something that with all due respect to Fulham fans, cannot often be said about games at Craven Cottage.

This was English football at its best: the setting, the noise, the action, the underdog giving the bigger boy a bloody nose, and while it would be naive to paint Fulham as the antidote to all that is bad with the sport given they remain a wealthy, corporate‑minded club who are in a battle with their own supporters over ticket prices, their return to the top flight feels like a good thing, especially given Marco Silva's insistence after the game on Saturday that they will continue to take the fight to their opponents, regardless of their status. "We have our philosophy, something that we are building and creating from last season," the Fulham manager said. "This is the main thing for us, to play with commitment and desire and big ambition to get three points."

Bournemouth won on Saturday and it would have been a hat-trick of positive results for the promoted sides had Nottingham Forest got something at Newcastle. Sadly, they lost. But, to use that most summery of words, the early season "vibes" are positive and that's something to cherish. Because soon it will be winter with a paradoxical mix of crushing predictability and unwanted chaos — the rich rising to the top and Qatar's moment in the hot sun leaving a bitter taste in the mouth while also throwing everyone's plans into turmoil. Cheers Sepp. — Guardian



https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/2022/08/08/liverpool-fulham-premier-league-qatar-craven-cottage/

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Peerless Palhinha puts Fulham on the front foot

I still can't believe that João Palhinha is a Fulham player. The young man who caught Marco Silva's eye when he was featuring for Sporting's B side had plenty of offers when it became clear that his boyhood club were considering a sale to finance their incomings this summer. Chief among them were Wolves – and so confident were our next opponents about securing their man, Palhinha's move to SW6 was held up by a wrangle between agents, who had been supposed to successfully broker that deal. He came to London instead – and, in a peerless performance full of persistent pressure, showed just why the Whites might come to regard the £17m they paid up front for Palhinha to be a heist of the highest order.

    "He comes from Lisbon

    We only paid 20 million

    We think he's f****** brilliant

    Palhiiiiiiiiinnnnnhhaaaaa"
    The terrace ditty praising our new engine room enforcer, to the tune of She's Electric by Oasis

Put simply Palhinha is a menace. Silva, whose extensive studying of Fulham prior to be interviewed for the job by Shahid Khan included the traumatic experience of watching the footage of our last two Premier League train wrecks (something that should come with a health warning), recognised that the team that played such sublime stuff on the way to winning the Championship needed to become nastier. Not in an overly physical way, because that would never be his style, but in a manner that upsets an opponent's rhythm. Pairing Palhinha with Harrison Reed in deeper central midfield roles prevented Liverpool from being able to move the ball freely through the middle – and, for a while, Jurgen Klopp's disbelief at what was transpiring on the pitch was shared by his side too.

That Fulham completely dominated Liverpool's midfield trio of Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and Thiago Alcantra whilst at a numerical disadvantage says everything about how industrious Reed and Palhinha proved to be. We've known all about the special one from Worthing's insatiable appetite for hard graft, but Palhinha's work ethic and success in tackle was phenomenal. As Herbie suggested last month, it shouldn't surprise anyone. He has been one of the Primeira Liga's most consistent disrupters for a few seasons now – no player made more successful tackles (185) in that division over the last two campaigns – and has not been flustered on the international stage, as illustrated by a sensational sequence from the European Championships, where he wins possessions from Kingsley Coman and then nonchalantly nutmegs N'Golo Kante.

Liverpool had no answer to Palhinha's intensity on Saturday. His 'octopus legs,' as Frankie fabulously described them yesterday, won back balls he had no right to reach. Palhinha's stature – at 6ft 3in he's taller than your classical defensive midfield destroyer with a lumbering gait – belies just how much he is suited to his role in Silva's side. He might not be rapid, but he's no slouch in getting around the field. Within his first 45 minutes in English competitive football, Palhinha had won four tackles, made an interception, won his only aerial duel, came out the victor in four of the six battles for possession on the ground, successfully completed seven passes of eleven and had two shots blocked for good measure. Water might cover roughly 70 per cent of the earth, but it has nothing on our new signing. He was everywhere.

As with the whole team's performance, the manner of how Fulham went about things on Saturday mattered. There was a defiance about the men in white – as if they were making a statement about this term in the top flight being different. On the two previous occasions that the Whites won promotion under the Khans, there was a rather meek capitulation on the opening day – in 2018 to Crystal Palace and, two years later, against Arsenal – that hinted at the problems to come. From the first whistle last weekend, the hosts were first to every ball and determined to make a game of it. How they succeeded.

It is, of course, only one game but it makes a refreshing change to see a Fulham side go toe-to-toe with a top team after the painful Parker passiveness. All the more encouragingly, Silva's tweaking of his tactics from the Championship meant that the Whites weren't overwhelmed. Picking up a point against Liverpool, highly fancied for the title before the big kick off, will do wonders for morale. With Silva's philosophy still heavily weighted towards posing problems for opponents in the final third, Palhinha will be pivotal to Fulham's prospects. He's made a magnificent start. Obrigado, João.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2022/08/peerless-palhinha-puts-fulham-on-the-front-foot/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham 2 - 2 Liverpool: The Post Mortem

Jurgen Klopp is world class in every sense. His personality, his coaching style, his ability to evolve, his adoration of the wonderful support, and his affection towards his players.

It is this last part which can often cause the odd mishap in his spectacular Liverpool reign. His loyalty to certain players is applauded by many, and there is obviously great pride in how he treats his players. Players that have felt the warm embrace of the big German would run through walls for him, and follow him into any situation without question.

I wrote a couple of preview pieces in the lead up to the Fulham game, where I noted how attributes should dictate the team selections this season. I am no Jürgen Klopp, but the logic of what must be done is often always there to see, nonetheless. Against Fulham, the Reds needed to be quick, direct, and incisive on the ball. Against Manchester City the previous week, they basically played the role that Fulham did yesterday, that of a pack of hungry wolves eager to hunt down a team happy to have the ball. That game against City was the perfect stomping ground for Roberto Firmino, and he revelled in chasing down defenders who were instructed to maintain possession. It could also be understandable as to why Jordan Henderson started that game, where often times his game is marginally better off the ball. Though Hendo didn't perform well that day, I assumed it was more a case of always safeguarding either Thiago or Naby. Thiago started, therefore Naby did not.

This past Saturday (at Craven Cottage) Liverpool controlled 67% of the ball, but were very much the lesser of the two teams. Despite the numbers pointing towards a controlled Reds performance, it was far from this from the very outset. The overwhelming factor is that of the two competing managers, Marco Silva was by far the more tactically astute. All coaches will (and understandably should) have off days. These giant figures of the game are only human, and this is where it is on the players to get situations over the line. I actually believe a combination of Klopp mildly righting his initial wrongs, and certain players entering the fray allowed this, but only just. Darwin and Harvey were the creative figures that were needed, and probably should have started against this type of opponent.

I was always nervous about which Fulham team may take us on. I heard big winning score lines mentioned prior to the game, and this was all well and good. My pre-game scoreline had the Reds winning 0-2, but I was still eager to point out that promotion winning form and desire can sometimes be carried over. Last year Brentford were a bullish and aggressive outfit, and Leeds were this and more the season prior. Fulham spent the previous campaign having their way with most teams, and their opening game of this Premier League saw them welcome the most famous & trophy laden club in English football. With that, are we really surprised that they came for us, and should we not have selected a team that could technically come through this likely scenario.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, and it's easy to nod and say what we all would have done. But the fact is, neither Jordan Henderson or Roberto Firmino were ever suited to this game, and we should have been looking at players 'now' far more suited to on ball play. Jordan Henderson should be nothing more than a Fabinho back up, and his role as an 8 is well beyond what his regressing body can offer. Bobby should be used as a rotation piece, and his own on ball regression and impact means he shouldn't be playing against teams that simply don't hold onto the ball long enough.

Game 1 of the season should have seen Naby & Darwin start ahead of the players stated, and as soon as Naby bowed out with illness (he's not injured folks), Harvey should have been slotted in. Harvey Elliott is a boy, but a boy that wants to create on ball havoc, and integrate with those gifted performers around him. He may not be ready for 50 games a season, but if he is to be sandwich between world class operators such as Salah, Trent & Fabinho, he would do just fine. Henderson may be the senior player, but he is simply in drastic decline, and offers next to nothing when on the ball. The odd cross or pass aside becomes the common rhetoric, but he simply cannot operate in a possession heavy group, and certainly not as an 8.

Darwin is a killer, and I believe his impact will come close to how Virgil evolved our backline, and how Fabinho evolved our middle core. Darwin is electric and he inspired those around him to be more direct and aggressive in their play. His impact on two consecutive games (off the bench) has been astounding, and until Diogo Jota is back, he must now start all games. We have to be aggressive, not over confident and arrogant, but aggressive in possession. We need players able to operate at insanely high speeds, and react to teams willing to hunt us down. If I am Jurgen, I'm switching to a 4-2-3-1, and putting Fabinho in there with Naby, and unleashing Harvey into the 10 / RCM role. We have to be logical, and Jürgen Klopp must now be the level of decisiveness that is also needed on the pitch.

A few seasons ago, some team somewhere (probably WBA) would have low-blocked the life out of us. This now common factor has been repeated time and time again, and we signed a multi talented striker in order to overcome this. In not starting this dominating striker yesterday, it allowed Fulham to come for us, and we saw yesterday how a rampaging Aleksandar Mitrović was able to attack our backline (and certain individuals), and show how a power forward can benefit a hungry team.

Patrick Viera would have had his note pad out yesterday, and you can now guarantee that his Crystal Palace team will look to replicate that which worked so well for Marco Silva. His own team is full of energy, desire, and strength. Much like Marco Silva, he is a talented manager that will look to harness which his team requires to compete with the Reds, and with that, Klopp has to react in kind.

With Thiago joining Ox & Curtis Jones on the injured list, I hope it pushes Julian Ward into action. We are not talking about a £100m Jude Bellingham, but Matheus Nunes would now be the ideal signing to bring to life. We have most certainly been linked, and now would be the perfect opportunity to recruit this type of player. He would offer great on and off ball attributes, great decision making and an ability to create havoc on the ball. In the next outing, this role should be undertaken by Harvey, and let him have a good run in that role. With the landscape being that which it is, we simply cannot have yet another season that hinges on not signing that one player.

Two seasons ago we needed a central defender, and we all know how that went. Last season we needed a starting calibre central midfielder, in order to transition the ageing (and rapidly declining) skipper away from the starting eleven. Darwin must also be a bonafide starter, and next week must be about reaction.

With one game gone, nothing is lost, and the early injuries have at least fallen within a transfer window with weeks still to spare. Knowledge of what has happened before will surely spur Julian Ward to move, and hopefully Jürgen Klopp can finally accept that certain players, players he undoubtedly adores, can no longer operate within the teams he picks. Liverpool are elite, and Jürgen Klopp is elite. It's now time for the team and it's starting pieces to be of that elite level also, otherwise we will simply see Manchester City drift away.



https://anfieldindex.com/52192/fulham-2-2-liverpool-the-post-mortem.html

[WhiteJC]

Jack and Loz at the Cottage - Blog 222
Date: 6th August 2022

Opposition: Liverpool

Score: 2-2

Fulham goal scorer: 🔥🔥

Weather: flaming hot

Atmosphere: blisteringly good

MOTM (football): We'll give you one guess....?

MOTM (non-football): in a week where goalkeepers are the subject of debate at Fulham, it was great to see Peter Mellor receive his Forever Fulham award

Pub: after the match, we drank rose wine in the sunshine outside the Riverside Studios. And life felt perfect.

High summer in England and high drama in SW6 as the Champions clashed with the Missed-Out-On-Being-Champions-By-One-Point in the opening match of what we are already sure will be a season to remember.

The Craven Cottage pitch looked lush and verdant under a billowing blue sky; surround-sound was back courtesy of the lower tier of the Riverside stand and by the time the teams strode out across the turf we had already completed the first of many choruses of Mitro's on Fire. The fans were nervous but expectant, the players were composed and prepared. And we all had some points to prove.

Fulham's ambition in the transfer market immediately translated into confidence on the pitch. For the first 15 minutes all the play was at the Putney End, all the possession, intent and ideas were ours. Liverpool, who are genuinely one of the best teams in Europe, were dazed, confused and almost overwhelmed. They weren't helped by their fans who, having had an early start from Haslemere, were still half asleep.

The atmosphere in the rest of the ground, meanwhile, got louder and more animated: we liked what we were seeing. Even though we didn't have it all our own way in the first half, Fulham were outstanding. Every player was flawless. We're used to seeing those short fast, triangular passes look easy. Liverpool made them harder with their pressing and interceptions but still, we kept possession when we needed to and, more importantly, when we lost the ball, we employed a furious intensity to win it back.

The newbies slotted in perfectly, the seasoned players raised their games so you couldn't tell who was a new arrival and who was an old hand. This was simply a super-fit, superbly-organised, hard-fighting Fulham team. Everyone worked hard for everyone else.

Dealing with specifics: this is the best we have seen Antonee Robinson play for Fulham. He didn't look like a misplaced athlete, he looked like a skilled footballer with great awareness and sharp tackles. On the other wing Tete was just as good. Bobby Decordova Reid worked hard and Harrison even harder.

This brings us to one of the important questions of the weekend: is Joao Pahlinha the best midfielder we've had since Mousa Dembele? Aggressive but economic, incisive but patient, Joao dealt with every ball, and every player, that came his way. He shielded the back four, he blocked, he cleared, he slid. His partnership with Harrison already looks instinctive and trusting. Appearances can be very deceptive - Joao looks like the kind of nice man you could take home to meet your parents but in fact he's a no nonsense enforcer who menaces other men without mercy. We love him!

We're also impressed by Pereira - he didn't stop running, he's got some good ideas and his hair looks great. Not everything he tried came off (what was that flick in the second half?!) but his wayward tendencies will soon be Silva polished away.

There were unfair match ups at both ends of the pitch. For most of the game, Mo Salah was frustrated by the Fulham defence while Virgil Van Dyke was outclassed and out run by......the man we can't stop watching or talking about.

If every Fulham fan had been given a pound every time someone said, "Mitro can't cut it in the Premier League," we'd have been able to buy a Centre Back each. But on Saturday our fiery friend showed the world what he, his teammates, his manager and every Fulham fan already knew: it wasn't that Mitro wasn't ready for the Premier League, it's that the Premier League wasn't ready for him.

His first goal was fantastic, and familiar. The arching ball, the hanging leap, the smashing header. But, as Mitro, his teammates, his manager and his fans also know - he's not just about goals. This was one of his best ever performances - up and down the pitch, attack, defence, wings, midfield - who cares? Mitro covered all the ground and did all the jobs. He is such an essential but understated part of the overall game plan that you'd call him an unsung hero....if we didn't sing about him all the time.

Liverpool improved during the second half - they had to, particularly after Kebano's post skimming near miss. Jurgen Klopp gnashed his sparkling teeth and threw on £100 million worth of subs in the hope they'd change the game. They did, but not much. Their first goal was good but just as they were getting a foothold on the pitch Fulham's first sub came into his own. Manor Solomon is the personification of good things coming in small packages. This was an enticing cameo from him, the best moment of which was his skill and vision setting Mitro free on his chase down the pitch and eventual penalty glory.

And what a penalty it was. And how fantastic to see Mitro take it and score past the man in lavender. It wasn't that long ago that Mitro missed that fateful penalty against Scotland and his career, and Fulham's season fell into decline. But that was a different player, a different man. Now we have Aleksandar Mitrovic, Premier League striker, and he's burning brighter than ever before.

A brief word on the defence: Rodak may not be our long term number one but he deserves to keep his place on the back of an inspired, athletic performance. And Tim Ream. Some may have been surprised that he wasn't outclassed. Most weren't.

The only slight negatives were the Triangle of Doomish lead up to Liverpool's second goal and the fact that Fulham ran out of steam around 80 minutes and were hanging on for the last 15. But fitness will improve and, even though things got fairly desperate, panic didn't set it and, assisted by new recruit Shane Duffy, the team saw the game out.

To come away from a draw with a top side feeling that you could have had more is testament to the outstanding game played by this Fulham team and masterminded by their coaches. Some of the headlines will be about Liverpool playing badly, but we made them play that way.

Random musings:-

- It was bittersweet to see Fabio Carvalho back and all grown up. We don't often mention the great man twice in one blog but Fabio played against Fulham the Dembele way - present but not involved

- As for Harvey Elliot, kudos for the round of applause as he was told to f*ck off by the Hammy End

- And Nunez really does look like Andy Carroll - you could have fried chips in that greasy hair

- Whilst we support Marco's stance on showing the board he could only make 3 subs, we would have brought MBabu on, particularly with Kenny on a yellow card

- It looked like we had yet another ref having an existential crisis but this one seemed to gain some perspective once Mitro had a word with him

- For the rest of the season every team will be using hairdryers on their pitch before their visit from Liverpool.

So, we are up and running. Fulham might be newly promoted but this is our 16th year out of the last 20 in the Premier League and that showed on Sunday with our intense, undaunted attitude. With a manager who's done this before and players ready for the challenge, it looks like we'll fit straight back in.

We've had good results against big teams before but this one feels different - like it wasn't a matter of chance; like we might have all the pieces of the puzzle slotted into all the right places. Marco Silva has a plan and it goes far beyond a draw with Liverpool and scraping into 17th place. It's very early days, but this could be the season we've been waiting for, for a very long time.



https://werdsmith.com/p/WJm8NTFcYQUymQ