Monday Fulham Stuff - 21/11/22...

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Football needs more leaders like Abdes Ouaddoh

I first met Abdes Ouaddoh when I was sixteen. I was part of a young disabled supporters' trip to Motspur Park, organised by former Fulham stalwarts Gary Mulcahey and Emma Taylor. For a teenager who was already an avid student of the game, the chance to watch Jean Tigana's training session was akin to Christmas coming early. I probably lingered by the training pitches far too long, but my group's reward was to have a kickaround with Ouaddoh, John Collins and Luis Boa Morte. All three have been kind enough to keep in touch since then – a mark of the men they are, given that I was just a kid with far too much to say for himself.

Ouaddoh, a ball-playing centre half who fell in love with England during his trips to London as a student, outlined his enduring love for Fulham during Thursday night's Fulham Supporters' Trust AGM. The Moroccan international turned down the likes of Arsenal, where Arsene Wenger wanted him to continue his eye-catching development at Nancy in the Gunners' reserves, Monaco and Kaiserslautern to come to Craven Cottage. Tigana, an icon in French football, told the-then 22 year-old defender that he would have to work for a place in the first team, but the prospect of playing in the Premiership proved irresistible.

Ouaddoh only made 36 first-team appearances – with most of those coming at right back as Fulham came to terms with the departure of Steve Finnan – but he made an impression as an elegant defender. One of his first acts on his debut was to cleanly challenge Ruud van Nistelrooy on the day that the Cottagers came so close to shocking the treble winners at Old Trafford and he was part of a side that won the InterToto Cup, sparking Fulham's first continental campaign – which reached the third round. Ouaddoh learned more than just how to mix it in English football from the likes of Luis Boa Morte, Louis Saha, Alain Goma, Kit Symons, Andy Melville and company – he credits his time in SW6 with helping him grow into the man he is today.

That's where his advocacy at the Trust's online AGM comes in. Ouaddoh was still a Fulham player when he captained Morocco to the final of the 2004 African Cup of Nations in Tunisia – with his performances persuading Rennes to turn a loan spell into a permanent move. He went to feature in the Champions' League for Olympiacos before thirst for a new challenge took him to Qatar. He was initially intrigued by combining a desire to coach with helping the Qatar Stars League establish itself, but his dream turned to a nightmare as he became a prisoner of the Qatari state after contractual disputes led to his family being turfed out of their accomodation, his car being seized and his human rights eroded. Ouaddoh and his family only escaped after he bravely spoke of the suffocation of the kafala system to the BBC: such was his terror he gripped the hand of his wife for dear life as the plane taking him out of Qatar revved its engine on the tarmac.

Many footballers would have consigned this experience to their past, counted their lucky stars and moved quietly on with their lives. Not Ouaddoh. He worked with an international campaign of trade unions to protest FIFA's decision to allow Qatar to host the World Cup and, when a push for a re-vote proved unsuccessful, spoke around Europe and the world about the need to improve working conditions and trade union rights in the country. In a wide-ranging discussion with Fulham fans last week, following an illuminating interview in the Times last Saturday, Ouaddoh said a boycott at this late stage wouldn't help bring back the 5,000 lives lost and that captains and coaches should speak about the people who died building the stadia during the tournament.

Ouaddoh was just as engaging when discussing his hopes for Morocco at the finals. He passionately denounced the decision to dispense with the services of Vahid Halilhodži? only months before the tournament that the Bosnian had qualified the national side for following a disappointing African Nations Cup campaign, where the coach was undermined by the unprofessionalism of Hakim Ziyech. He implored the recently-installed Walid Regragui to ditch the defensive tactics that saw him secure African Champions' League glory with Wydad and allow Morocco's attacking flair to light up the finals instead.

Ouaddoh's own coaching career has taken him to Benin, where he is in charge of ESAE FC Benin, having spent six years coaching in the Platini Academy and taking charge of the youth set-up at his first club, Nancy. In the light of Gianni Infantino's gaslighting over the weekend and the lack of backbone displayed by football's decision makers and celebrities, Ouaddoh's passion for people and belief in the ability of our game to still bring people together is inspiring. We need more of it.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2022/11/football-needs-more-leaders-like-abdes-ouaddoh/

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West Ham United battle Fulham for Pablo Maia

London duo West Ham United and Fulham are reportedly set to battle it out for Brazilian midfielder Pablo Maia.

According to UOL, Premier League sides West Ham United and Fulham are set to battle it out for promising Brazilian youngster Pablo Maia.

The 20-year-old came through the ranks at Brazilian giants Sao Paulo and has 61 senior appearances to his name across all competitions. During that time, Maia has scored two goals and made one assist.

A defensive midfielder, Maia has shown excellent positional awareness and is a solid player with the ball at his feet. Also capable of doubling up as a centre-back, the 20-year-old certainly adds versatility to his list of talents.

The youngster's performances have not gone unnoticed in Europe with both West Ham and Fulham keeping close tabs. While neither London outfit are among the top sides domestically nor on the continent, they could provide Maia with the stage to display and further hone his abilities as a footballer.

The Hammers, in particular, could do with a defensive midfielder given the uncertainty surrounding the future of Declan Rice. While the Brazilian starlet will add numbers to the roster, he is from the finished product. Maia can be, at best, described as a long-term potential addition to the Hammers' roster.

Fulham, meanwhile, landed Joao Palhinha last summer, and the Portuguese ace has gone on to become a key cog in Marco Silva's side. Nathaniel Chalobah is the only other specialist defensive midfielder in the Cottagers' squad and bringing in Maia would be an upgrade.

The Premier League newcomers have impressed this season, and a strong second half to the season should see them secure top-flight football for another season. It gives Fulham a solid base to build on and also attract better talent.

Maia is also a force to be reckoned with in the air and can physically hold his own. His ability to strike the ball from a distance also makes him a goalscoring threat and could be something that West Ham or Fulham can make use of on set pieces.

The 20-year-old Brazilian midfielder certainly is one to watch and appears to have a bright future in the game. Whether it be Fulham or West Ham, a move to London would be a wise decision and will give him the stage he craves to showcase his abilities.



https://thehardtackle.com/transfer-news/2022/11/20/west-ham-united-battle-fulham-for-pablo-maia/

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Tim Ream ready to live the World Cup dream as the USMNT 'grandpa'

DOHA, Qatar — 

Tim Ream thought he was going to the World Cup four years ago, only to see the U.S. fall one point shy after a fluke loss to Trinidad and Tobago in the final qualifier.

He thought he had a shot this year, only to fall off the national team's depth chart, going 14 months without call-up. So when coach Gregg Berhalter reached out earlier this month and invited him to Qatar, it wasn't as much a surprise as it was a relief.

Berhalter is expected on Monday to reach out again and complete that dream by giving Ream a place in the starting line at center back in the Americans' tournament opener against Wales.

"You don't ever give up hope. You never completely say you're out of the picture," said Ream, who was pretty much out of the picture until injuries to center backs Miles Robinson and Chris Richards muddled the focus.

"I didn't expect to be here, involved in a World Cup," he continued. "It's something that we all dream of as a kid."

It's been a long time since Ream was a kid. At 35 he's the oldest player on a team that averages 25 years of age, making it the second-youngest in Qatar. That's led to a lot of light-hearted kidding.

"Tim's the grandpa of the group," midfielder Tyler Adams said.

Behind the joking is a deep respect for what Ream brings because for all its youth and talent, one thing the U.S. lacked was experience.

"He's a crucial part of our team," said Adams, who was in grade school when Ream made his international debut. "At times, we probably missed him and his leadership, his quality — just someone of that experience and caliber around the group."

If injuries opened the door to the World Cup for Ream, his recent play allowed him to walk through that door. He hasn't missed a league game for Fulham in the past two seasons, helping the team climb back into the Premier League. Perhaps just as important he plays in England alongside left back Antonee Robinson, who has become a standout performer for the national team. Pairing them in the World Cup makes a lot of sense.

"A lot of people thought he was down and out," said defender DeAndre Yedlin, the only member of the U.S. team who has been on a World Cup roster. "And now at 35 he's playing in his first World Cup. Things like that makes this group so special. Guys on this team never give up, and that's a big part of our DNA."

After finally getting to the World Cup, Ream and his teammates will have to wait a bit to actually get on the field since the three U.S. group-stage games won't kick off until 10 p.m. local time.

"It's a big adjustment," Adams said of the late start.

Four years ago in Russia, where the World Cup was played in 31 days across a continent-sized country, group play kicked off over a six-hour window, with no games starting later than 9 p.m. local time. Moving the tournament from the summer to the fall has compacted the schedule so there will be four games daily in the first round. And with no two stadiums more than 35 miles apart, organizers have widened the kickoff window, scheduling games to start between 1 and 10 p.m. local time, to squeeze in the extra match and also to avoid congestion in and around the stadiums.

"We are preparing a little bit differently," Ream said. "We just kind of moved back meals and trainings. We're taking care to make sure that we are optimally prepared to play at that time of night.

"This is just one of those things that we have to deal with and adjust our body clocks."

TV broadcasters deserve some of the blame for the late starts. The eight-hour time difference between New York and Doha means the first three U.S. games will start at 2 p.m. on the East Coast, 11 a.m. in Los Angeles. That's not ideal but it's better than the alternative — more than half a dozen first-round matches not involving the U.S. will start at 2 a.m. on the West Coast.

Early start times in Russia contributed to a 35% drop in English-viewership from 2014-18. Telemundo's drop was even steeper at 41%, although the absence of the U.S. from the tournament was responsible for a big chunk of that decline.

So this year, with the U.S. back in the competition, Fox Sports asked FIFA to give the Americans the latest possible start times and was rewarded with three 10 p.m. kickoffs in the group stage.

"We really felt it would benefit our viewers if we had a good time," said David J. Neal, vice president of production for Fox Sports and executive producer of the network's World Cup coverage. "So we're trying to get maximum exposure for the U.S. team. Under the circumstances it's the best scenario."

Well, maybe not for the players. The late starts will affect the team between games because with matches ending around midnight it's unlikely it will be back to its hotel before 2 a.m., where sleep could be difficult.

"I don't really sleep after night games," Ream said.

In this case it might be because Ream is afraid he'll wake up and find his whole improbable World Cup adventure has been a dream.



https://www.latimes.com/sports/soccer/story/2022-11-20/tim-ream-usmnt-world-cup-wales

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Fulham man reportedly on radar of European pair

Fulham man reportedly on radar of European pair.

Fulham defender Antonee Robinson is reportedly wanted by AC Milan and Inter Milan. The Italian giants are both being linked with a move for the Premier League left-back.

According to Tuttosport (via FCInterNews), the Serie A giants are both tracking him. He will be in World Cup action over the next four weeks in Qatar with USA and will be looking to show what he can do on the big stage.

Robinson, 25, has been with Fulham since 2020 and is a key player for the London outfit. The full-back played a big part behind the Championship title win last season and has since adapted well to the step back up to the Premier League.

He rose up through the academy at Everton and was a regular for the Toffees at various youth levels as a youngster. However, he never made a senior appearance for them and was loaned out to Bolton Wanderers and Wigan Athletic to gain experience before the latter made his move permanent.

The Milton Keynes-born man spent 12 months as a full-time Latics player before Fulham came calling and he hasn't looked back since. However, the Cottagers could face a battle to keep hold of him down the line amid fresh talk now that AC Milan and Inter Milan are keen.



https://www.londonworld.com/sport/football/fulham/fulham-man-reportedly-on-radar-of-european-pair-3925062

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Fulham, Manchester United, Tottenham interested in Kim Min-jae

Napoli defender Kim Min-jae has triggered massive interest among a host of clubs, including Fulham, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.

As per Calciomercatoweb, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham are interested in signing in 26-year-old South Korean defender Kim Min-jae from Serie A giants .

Following Kalidou Koulibaly's move to Chelsea in the summer, Napoli broke the bank to bring Kim Min-Jae to Italy from Fenerbahce. And the 26-year-old has made a relentless transition while  keeping his team at the top of Serie A.

His standout performances at the back have inspired Napoli to an unbeaten start to their Serie A campaign. And clubs like Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, and Fulham are expected to knock on the door to explore a potential move.

Spurs' good start to the season has got marred by inconsistency and injury issues. So Antonio Conte wants to upgrade his defence in January. Defence has been pretty vulnerable as several players have been pretty error-prone letting the guard off a number of times for Tottenham.

Kim Min-jae has a hefty release clause in his contract. But interested parties will only have 15 days to answer their query. Napoli will block all kinds of advances, and Tottenham will need to splash a record sum if they really want to pursue a move for the 26-year-old.

Manchester United are also monitoring the progress of the player, and Erik ten Hag has felt the need for another defender at Old Trafford. Lisandro Martinez has been superb since his arrival from Ajax. But uncertainty is looming over the future of Harry Maguire, who has seen fallen down the pecking order. And Maguire might leave Manchester United in the summer.

Manchester United will assess various options. But they are unlikely to raid Napoli in January, and a summer transfer looks more likely, given their heavy spending in the last transfer window.

Fulham have done exceedingly well under Marco Silva, and the Portuguese manager ideally wants another defender to strengthen his backline. The Cottagers prefer to field a high-line defence and Kim's accuracy and proficiency could be a big plus point for them. They have recenlty shown interest in Koffi Djidji.

Kim's game-reading ability has been on point, and his aerial ability should help him to dominate games in the English top flight with ease. But Napoli might not fancy selling the 26-year-old, especially if they remain on top of Serie A.



https://thehardtackle.com/transfer-news/2022/11/20/fulham-manchester-united-tottenham-interested-in-kim-min-jae/

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Dorey dents Fulham Women's homecoming
A first half double from Ellie Dorey saw AFC Wimbledon knock Fulham Women out of the Capital Cup as the Whites played their first female fixture at Craven Cottage in more than twenty years.

Steve Jaye's side delivered a performance full of passion and endeavour in front of 3,181 fans at their historic home despite going behind to an early Dorey drive. The Dons dominated the first twenty minutes and went in front in the fourth minute when the always dangerous Ashlee Hincks found space in the box and her shot was deflected into the path of her strike partner. Dorey drilled a finish in the far corner past a diving Edie Kelly.

The goal didn't dishearten the hosts and once Lois Konan and particular Chloe Christison-McNee got to grips with the midfield battle the contest looked different. Faye Baker made a couple of smart saves to prevent Fulham's forward line from profiting form some purposeful play and the visitors doubled their lead with a fine counter-attacking goal. Hincks burst into the penalty area, drawing skipper Mary Southgate across before squaring for Dorey to drive home her second of the afternoon.

But the Whites managed a riposte before the half time break. Fine feet from Helen Ogle on the left wing allowed the experienced forward to work the room for a cross and the lively Georgia Heasman ghosted in at the far post, cleverly guiding a finish home from close range. The hosts carved out several good chances in the second period with Olds heading over and substitute Edie Buchele going close, but Wimbledon made sure of progression when Hincks finished emphatically after Southgate's clearance had been charged down.

Fulham kept pushing until the end with Annie Thomas seeing a late shot blocked on the goalline before Hincks somehow squandered a glorious opportunity to make it four. The home side finished in the ascendancy with Olds and Ogle unable to force home from a set play – but the real story was that their long-awaited return to the Cottage will help inspire a new generation of young women to play the beautiful game.

FULHAM WOMEN: Kelly; T. Allen, Southgate, Stormer; Allen, Konan, Lambird, Foreman; Heasman, Ogle, Olds. Subs: Cowan, Modak, Mendes, Thomas, Buchele.

GOAL: Heasman (44).

AFC WIMBLEDON: Baker; Russell, Brooks, Mann, Highman, Taylor, Stow, Siber, Donovan, Dorey, Hincks. Subs: L-A. Allen, Newman, Sampson, Billingham, Lockett.

GOALS: Dorey (4, 40), Hincks (65).



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2022/11/dorey-dents-fulham-womens-homecoming/

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West Ham on verge of sealing first January signing despite Fulham talks

West Ham United hope to complete the signing of Sao Paulo defender Luizao 'as soon as possible' but a few details still need to be sorted out before the 20-year-old can be unveiled at the Premier League outfit, according to IG Esporte. 

West Ham's first signing of 2023 is unlikely to be the sort of marquee addition some supporters may be hoping for, given the club's ongoing difficulties at the wrong end of the table. But Luizao, a highly-rated centre-half, could still prove to be an inspired piece of business; the Sao Paulo youngster one of the most exciting young defenders in Brazilian football right now. 

He has been linked with, among others, Porto, Sporting Lisbon and Fulham. 

West Ham are set to win the race for Luizao's sought-after signature, however; reporter Andre Hernan claiming that the 6ft 1ins giant will join on a free transfer during the January window. 

IG Esporte, meanwhile, claim that there are still a few obstacles that must be overcome before Luizao can start modelling his new claret-and-blue kit. 

West Ham United beat Fulham to Luizao deal

An agreement is still yet to be reached regarding the defender's image rights. West Ham are hoping to seal the deal 'as soon as possible' however. Luziao has chosen the Hammers after also holding talks with London rivals Fulham. 

Sao Paulo, according to reports, could raid Southampton in pursuit of a replacement.

£7 million benchwarmer Luizao is keen on a return to South America; his father and agent, Marcelo Vojnovic, admitting that the former Torino man is eyeing a fresh start following just 11 Premier League starts in 18 months on the South Coast. 

Botafogo and Vasco da Gama have already held talks with Lyanco. 

"I spoke with him about some clubs; including Vasco," says Vojnovic. "He told me to look at (a move back to Brazil) with very good eyes. Of course, without ruling out other clubs that are interested in him." 

West Ham are reportedly also keen on Luizao's Sao Paulo team-mate Pablo Maia. 



https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2022/11/20/west-ham-on-verge-of-sealing-first-january-signing-despite-fulham-talks/

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Agent explains why West Ham move is unlikely after £6.5m Fulham bid

Pablo Maia's agent is playing down the chance of a move to Europe in the January transfer window with Premier League trio Fulham, Nottingham Forest and West Ham United keen on the midfielder, speaking to UOL. 

If Casemiro sits at one end of the spectrum of Brazilian midfielders, with AC Milan legend Kaka at the other, then 20-year-old Pablo Maia probably falls somewhere in the middle. Equal parts distributor, equal parts destroyer. 

A tally of seven yellow cards in 22 starts for Sao Paulo in 2022 shows that Maia is not averse to dipping into the dark arts when required. He is, however, still a footballer born and raised in the land of Jogo Bonito, and don't be surprised to see Maia follow up a typically well-timed interception with a mazy dribble; turning defence into attack in an instant. 

"Pablo Maia plays as the (deep-lying) midfielder. He gives security to our defence," explains Sao Paulo chief Muricy Ramalho; highlighting the youngster's role at both ends of the pitch. "He has a good pass too. He's not just about marking (opposition forwards).    

"Nowadays, the midfielder has to play too, and he has a good pass. Of course, he does the simple things, but he keeps the ball. He gives stability to Sao Paulo." 

West Ham, Fulham and Nottingham Forest like Sao Paulo midfielder Pablo Maia

Maia admitted last week that playing in Europe would be a 'dream'. And while it seems only a matter of time before he's boarding a flight across the Atlantic, Maia's agent insists that there is no reason to rush things with a winter move unlikely.

"We have many queries. He has caught the attention of the international market," explains representative Junior Pedroso. "But we are waiting to see if any club will formalise an offer. Anyway, he is maturing. And it won't be bad to stay another six months in Sao Paulo." 

Fulham have had an opening bid of £6.5 million rejected. Nottingham Forest and West Ham are also interested, with Pedroso indicating that Maia is likely to leave Sao Paulo for a damn sight less than his £43 million release clause. 

The Brazilian giants will reportedly accept £9 million, per Jorge Nicola. 

"The release clause is high, but it doesn't match reality," the agent adds. "In the European winter window, it is difficult for a club to have a budget for a young player who still needs to adapt."

Interestingly, West Ham are already on the verge of sealing a deal for another highly-rated young Brazilian; Maia's Sao Paulo team-mate Luizao. 



https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2022/11/21/agent-explains-why-west-ham-move-is-unlikely-after-6-5m-fulham-bid/