Friday Fulham Stuff - 04/11/22...

[WhiteJC]

Fulham boss Silva 'preparing' for Haaland to be fit for Man City, claims Mitrovic comparisons 'are unfair'

Marco Silva has revealed that he is "preparing" as if Erling Haaland will be fit enough to play for Man City against Fulham this weekend.

The in-form striker sustained a foot injury in Man City's draw against Borussia Dortmund on October 25. He subsequently missed their victories over Leicester City and Sevilla.

Haaland has netted 17 goals in just 11 Premier League appearances but it remains to be seen if he will be fit to feature this weekend.

Silva has been preparing his Fulham players to go up against the 22-year-old, and said: "(He is) a top, top striker. You know the impact that he made in the squad and in the Premier League as well, we know they are really, really tough when they play at home.

"Of course, Haaland is a key player for them. Let's see, it's more for Pep (Guardiola) and for them (questions on Haaland's fitness), but we are preparing for the game thinking that he will play and we will have to wait for some time before the kick-off to know."

Fulham have their own striker in impressive form, with Aleksandar Mitrovic grabbing nine goals from 12 top-flight matches.

However, Silva was unwilling to get drawn into comparisons between the two.

"It is unfair for me to compare," Silva added. "You know that I am delighted to have Mitrovic with us and I'm sure that Pep is delighted to have Haaland with them as well.

"All the other things we cannot compare, they are different profiles as strikers. I am delighted to have Mitro with us."

Fulham have exceeded all expectations in the first part of the season and currently sit seventh, above Liverpool and just two points behind Chelsea.

But they have been dealt an injury blow with news that winger Neeskens Kebano will be out for a number of months after rupturing an Achilles in training.

The 30-year-old had been a key part of the team, playing 12 times so far in all competitions, and Silva hailed his character.

"It's sad, sad news for us as a football club, for us as a group and for me personally as a manager," Silva said.

"He's a top, top guy, a top lad, a great professional and a happy guy – if I can say a happy footballer – and a strong character inside our dressing room and everyone loves him in this football club.

"I am really happy to have (had him here) the last 15 months under me and of course there is just one way to deal with the situation – support him in every way you can about everything to make him feel better again and feel happy again."



https://www.football365.com/news/fulham-boss-silva-preparing-haaland-fit-return-man-mitrovic-comparisons-unfair

[WhiteJC]

Erling Haaland provides Manchester City fitness boost ahead of Premier League clash with Fulham

Manchester City have received a major fitness boost on Thursday with the return of Erling Haaland to training, club photos have revealed.

The Norway international forward has missed the last two games through a foot injury, but now looks to be back in contention for the weekend's fixture.

Haaland was withdrawn at half-time of the Champions League draw with Borussia Dortmund last week, and remained out of the matchday squad against both Leicester and Sevilla.

Further assessment upon returning from Germany last week revealed that the former Dortmund forward had avoided any serious injury to his foot, but City boss Pep Guardiola admitted that the striker had sustained ligament damage.

The absence of Erling Haaland hasn't been felt too significantly, and Manchester City registered victories at the King Power Stadium and at the Etihad on Wednesday night.

Nevertheless, his return to Pep Guardiola's first-team squad this week will come as a major boost.

Erling Haaland was spotted in first-team training alongside Manuel Akanji - who also appeared to have sustained an injury concern in recent games.

Akanji's importance to the City side has been great since his arrival in the summer, and with rest and rotation imperative to Pep Guardiola's planning across the three games before the World Cup, his return will be a huge boost to all concerned.

Elsewhere on the fitness front, Kalvin Phillips will be hoping to stake a claim for either a start or some sort of involvement against Marco Silva's side ahead of the looming World Cup in Qatar.

The England international midfielder has recovered from shoulder surgery undertaken several weeks ago now - a problem that had been persistent since leaving Leeds United for Manchester City.

However, Kyle Walker remains sidelined as he faces a race to return to fitness ahead of the 2022 edition of the world's most watched international tournament.

Manchester City take on Fulham in a 3PM kick-off (BST), in the first of three remaining games before the pause for the FIFA World Cup.

However, Kyle Walker remains sidelined as he faces a race to return to fitness ahead of the 2022 edition of the world's most watched international tournament.

Walker underwent groin surgery following a problem sustained in the Manchester derby.

Manchester City take on Fulham in a 3PM kick-off (BST), in the first of three remaining games before the pause for the FIFA World Cup.



https://www.sportbible.com/city-xtra/rico-lewis-manchester-city-champions-league-statement-20221103

[WhiteJC]

Man City predicted lineup vs Fulham - Premier League

Manchester City welcome Fulham to the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.

Pep Guardiola has won all nine of his managerial meetings with the current Craven Cottage incumbent Marco Silva, beating the last five clubs the Portuguese tactician has taken charge of (Olympiacos, Hull City, Watford, Everton and Fulham). It's the longest 100% success rate of Guardiola's career against any manager.

Here's the City XI Guardiola may deploy to extend his hoodoo over Silva.

Man City predicted lineup vs Fulham (4-3-3)
GK: Ederson - Fulham are the only team Ederson has faced more than three times without ever conceding a goal (four consecutive clean sheets).

RB: John Stones - On Fulham's last trip to the Etihad, Stones scored the goal to put City ahead in the fourth round of last season's FA Cup.

CB: Manuel Akanji - The Switzerland international grew up as a Manchester United supporter but was quick to insist he "stopped being a fan" upon his arrival in the blue half of the city.

CB: Ruben Dias - Akanji provided some insight into the unseen aspect of the centre-back's game, admitting he "didn't particularly realise for instance how Ruben Dias leads from the back" with his running dialogue.

LB: Joao Cancelo - Aged 18, Cancelo's mother died in a road accident while he and his little brother Pedro were in the car. A year later he made his senior debut and dedicated it to the "woman of my life".

CM: Kevin De Bruyne - This calendar year, De Bruyne has directly contributed to 29 goals (13 scored, 16 assisted) in 28 Premier League matches.

CM: Rodri - The ballast in City's midfield has already racked up a career-high tally of three Premier League assists in a single season this term.

CM: Bernardo Silva - Before Monaco whisked him away from Benfica, Bernardo was being trained as a left-back by Jorge Jesus. Surprisingly, it's one of the few roles Guardiola hasn't shoehorned him into at City.

RW: Phil Foden - "The most, most, most talented player" Guardiola has ever seen hasn't scored or assisted a goal in his last six appearances across all competitions.

ST: Erling Haaland - With barely a third of the season gone, Haaland is just six goals shy of the tally which earned Mohamed Salah and Son Heung-min the Golden Boot last season.

LW: Jack Grealish - The former Aston Villa captain is often mocked for what he offers in interviews but few can fault his honesty. "When I was young, all I wanted to do was look good," he once admitted. "As I got older I thought, there's no point just looking good."



https://www.90min.com/posts/man-city-predicted-lineup-vs-fulham-premier-league-5-11-2022

[WhiteJC]

Who played when Fulham beat Man City in 2008? Danny Murphy features

While no trip to Manchester City could ever be described as a relaxing day out for any opposition team – even without Erling Haaland in Pep Guardiola's starting XI – at least Fulham won't be heading to the Etihad Stadium this weekend knowing that their Premier League status rests upon securing three invaluable points.

Not like in April 2008, when Roy Hodgson's Cottagers side produced a dramatic twist in their improbable 'Great Escape' tale; coming from 2-0 down to triumph 3-2 in England's North West.

That is one of just two wins the Londoners have enjoyed over Man City in the last 14 years. But what became of the Fulham team who showed such character and no little quality on that exhausting, exhilarating afternoon in 2008; proving beyond all reasonable doubt that diamonds are, indeed, forged by pressure?

Fulham's team from that famous Man City win

Kaser Keller
Alongside Brad Friedel, Washington-born Keller helped spark a proud tradition of American goalkeepers plying their trade on the other side of the pond. After a brief spell as an assistant coach for the USA national team, the former Southampton, Leicester City and Tottenham is now a pundit.

Paul Stalteri
Another North American to represent Fulham in the Premier League, Canadian Stalteri is still remembered fondly for the role he played during the club's narrow escape from the drop, joining on loan from Tottenham in January 2008.

Stalteri is a coach at MLS outfit Toronto FC these days.

Brede Hangeland
This Texan-born Norse giant was one of the most underrated centre-halves in the modern Premier League era. Hangeland forged a granite-like partnership with Hughes en route to the Europa League final, and is now working as a sports co-ordinator for the Norwegian national team.

Aaron Hughes
Now 42, Hughes only hung up his boots in 2019 following spells at Hearts, Melbourne City and Indian outfit Kerala Blasters. Capped 112 times by his country, Hughes was part of the coaching staff for the Northern Irish U19 women's team in 2021.

Paul Konchesky
Another who has dipped his toe into the women's game, Konchesky's West Ham United side are currently seventh in the WSL. The dependable former left-back also spent time at the helm of the Hammers' academy between 2017 and 2021.

Simon Davies
Scorer of Fulham's goal during the Europa League final defeat to a Diego Forlan-inspired Atletico Madrid in 2010, Davies is now an assistant manager at former employers Peterborough United.

Jimmy Bullard
Given his larger-than-life personality, it is no surprise to see Bullard establish himself as a popular TV personality after walking away from professional football. Formerly a contestant on I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, Bullard is keeping himself trim by firing potshots at poor Lloyd Griffiths these days on Soccer AM.

Danny Murphy 
A regular on talkSPORT and Match of the Day, Murphy is one of the most considered pundits around these days. The former Liverpool playmaker was the driving force behind Fulham's Great Escape. He scored one and set up another against Man City on that iconic April afternoon.

It was also Murphy who nodded home the final day winner at Portsmouth.

Clint Dempsey
Arguably the finest American footballer ever to step foot on UK soil; Dempsey is Fulham's all-time Premier League top scorer and a two-time Cottagers Player of the Year. Alongside NBA All-Star Chris Paul, Dempsey recently launched a 7-a-side soccer tournament broadcast on ESPN with a one million dollar cash prize (Daily Mail).

David Healy
A legendary player in his Northern Irish homeland, Healy is proving himself to be a rather handy tactician too. Since taking charge of Linfield in 2015, he has won ten trophies and came within touching distance of making The Blues the first team from Northern Ireland ever to qualify for the group-stages of a European competition.

Brian McBride 
Another all-American hero, frontman McBride enjoyed the best days of his career at Craven Cottage. He is now the general manager of the USA national team.

Substitute – Diomansy Kamara
No mention of Fulham's Great Escape is complete without Diomansy Kamara. The £6 million signing from West Brom was hardly prolific in white and black. But it was his second-half brace which turned a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 lead at the Etihad. Kamara works for broadcaster Canal Plus these days.

Substitute – Eric Nevland
As far as Norwegian strikers go, Nevland didn't quite make the same impact as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Erling Haaland on the Premier League stage. He did, however, score a crucial goal in a 2-0 victory over Birmingham City in the penultimate weekend of 2007/08.

Nevland was an iconic striker for Viking IF in Scandinavia. He's now adding another chapter to his story as their director of football.



https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2022/11/03/who-played-when-fulham-beat-man-city-in-2008-danny-murphy-features/

[WhiteJC]

Man City injury round-up as Pep Guardiola sweats on Erling Haaland ahead of Fulham tie
Manchester City will aim to go top of the table, at least temporarily, by beating Fulham on Saturday.

Man City injury round-up as Pep Guardiola sweats on Erling Haaland ahead of Fulham tie
Manchester City will aim to go top of the table, at least temporarily, by beating Fulham on Saturday.

Erling Haaland

The Norwegian was taken off at the interval when City travelled to his former club, Borussia Dortmund, last week. Guardiola opted to keep him out as a precaution in the win over Leicester four days later and he watched on from the stands during the 3-1 Champions League dead-rubber victory against Sevilla on Wednesday.

Haaland's foot injury does not appear to be a serious one but the Sky Blues are in no mood to take risks with the Premier League's most fearsome striker. Now almost one third of the way through the season, the 22-year-old's strike rate still stands at a ridiculous one goal every 54 minutes and the City boss recently claimed that he would 'hopefully' return to face Fulham.

Manuel Akanji

Not much was made of Akanji's switch from Borussia Dortmund in the summer, but he has taken life at the Etihad in his stride. Despite battling with the likes of Ruben Dias, Aymeric Laporte, John Stones and Nathan Ake at centre-back, the Swiss international has already racked up 10 appearances. 

Little has been said of the knock he picked up against Leicester at the weekend and he was absent from City's open training session this week. As such, Guardiola is likely to call upon one of the other options at his disposal on Saturday.



https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1691728/man-city-injury-news-sky-blues-pep-guardiola-erling-haaland-fulham

[WhiteJC]

Injury boost for Pep Guardiola as Man City player returns to training

Erling Haaland missed Saturday's 1-0 win over Leicester City in the Premier League and Wednesday's 3-1 win over Sevilla in the Champions League, but the 22-year-old has a chance of featuring in Saturday's clash with Fulham after returning to training.

Pep Guardiola said days ago that the Norwegian international could be back in time to face the Cottagers and Manchester City posted a video on Twitter recently showing Haaland in training with the rest of the first-team squad, so he might be in contention of playing over the weekend.

The 22-year-old has made 16 appearances in all competitions this season, scoring 22 goals with three assists. Haaland's last outing for City was in October's 0-0 draw with Borussia Dortmund, but he limped off at half time with a foot injury.

Guardiola's assessment that he had damaged his ligament made it sound like the striker would be out of action for much longer than a week or two, but Haaland has made a speedy recovery.

It's good timing as Saturday's meeting with Fulham is an important game. City can go top of the Premier League table with a win over the West Londoners while hoping Arsenal slip up to Chelsea, so Guardiola will want Haaland leading the line as he guarantees goals.



https://manchestercity.vitalfootball.co.uk/injury-boost-for-pep-guardiola-as-man-city-player-returns-to-training/

[filham]

How do we prepare for the City game?
Sorry, I see it as a damage limitation exercise, i am just hoping the deficit does not exceed 3 goals and expect out 2 wide men along with Periera to spend most of the game defending.

[demeant0r]

That's the type of attitude that Parker brought to the club and why we failed the last time around. No reason why we couldn't get something out of this game, we've played so well against other so-called top 6 clubs this seasons such as Liverpool and Arsenal (albeit nothing to show from Arsenal).