Tuesday Fulham Stuff - 20/12/22...

[WhiteJC]

Five realistic right-back targets

George Rossiter collects five names he thinks the Whites should look at in January.

Fulham are expected to be in the market for a right back in the January window. While Kenny Tete is a fantastic option, fitness issues continue to plague his chances of going a full season without injury. Meanwhile, Kevin Mbabu has struggled to establish himself under Marco Silva, with his struggles highlighted recently by Peter Rutzler in The Athletic.

Links have already been made to Cedric Soares of Arsenal and Roma outcast Rick Karsdorp, so it seems evident Silva wants a new option in that position. Here are five other realistic targets Fulham would be wise to look at in January.

1. Max Aarons
Since the 2018/19 season when Aarons broke into the Norwich side, playing 41 times that season and contributing to eight goals, the young defender has barely missed a game for the Canaries, especially under Daniel Farke. However, in two recent fixtures against Stoke and QPR, Dean Smith favoured Sam Byram in that position. While the progression expected of Aarons may not have yet shown, it is important to remember he is still just 22 years old and has played 18 times for the England under-21s side. If Aarons' career at Carrow Road shows any signs of stagnating, he could be a really sensible pick-up for any Premier League side.

Aarons has the potential to be everything Marco Silva loves in a full-back. Defensively, he proved to be a bright spark in a Norwich side that struggled in their efforts to stay up in the Premier League during the 19/20 and 21/22 campaigns. In the Championship campaigns proceeding those Premier League seasons, Aarons showed his ability to get forward more, with a total of 16 goal contributions in 107 Championship appearances. The ability to cope defensively in the Premier League and attack well in the Championship are attributes similar to that of Antonee Robinson, who Silva has now established as a fantastic Premier League player. Maybe the same could happen with Aarons...

2. Joao Mario
No, not that European Championship winner Joao Mario. This 22-year-old right back is an exciting talent, playing for Portuguese heavyweights Porto. There had to be a Portuguese inclusion in here, with Silva's proven track record this season of getting the best out of Portuguese-speaking signings such as Palhinha, Pereira and Willian. Mario has represented Portugal at many youth levels, from under-18 to under-21 level where he was capped 14 times. He broke into the Porto side in 2020 and has now got a plethora of experience in senior football, including 10 appearances in the Champions League.

Last season, Joao Mario played most of Porto's games across all competitions, but has been restricted to just seven league appearances this time out so far, playing 90 minutes just twice in the Liga Portugal. Mario also has versatility on his side. While the majority of his senior career has been spent at right-back, he has played games and contributed towards goals from both wing positions at times. A young Portuguese player with bags of potential and European experience could be a perfect acquisition for Marco Silva's side.

3. Ruben Aguilar
Aguilar is a much more experienced option compared to some of the others on this list. The 29-year-old has a French international cap to his name and would provide not only a quality option at right-back, but also a different type of player to Mbabu, being slightly more defensive-minded. The Frenchman has vast experience of Ligue 1, building a solid career for himself in stints at Montpellier and now Monaco, where he has played seven times in the Europa League.

Similarly to Joao Mario, Aguilar has struggled for consistent game time this season, playing 90 minutes just twice for Monaco in Ligue 1. The lack of minutes comes down to a few things. Aguilar has struggled with a heel bone injury, which may leave Fulham fans wary after the last French full-back we signed and the lack of subsequent minutes Kurzawa has played so far this season. Furthermore, the emergence of Monaco's young Brazilian full-back Vanderson has seen Aguilar's starting spot under threat even when he's fit. This may leave a quality operator with valuable experience available to Fulham at a tempting cut price this winter.

4. Julian Ryerson
Union Berlin's story in the last half a decade has been nothing short of a fairytale. The German club have gone from the second tier to European football and fighting for a spot in the Champions League in the space of three or four seasons. One player that's been a part of that journey is the Norwegian Julian Ryerson. Signed from Viking FK, Ryerson has gone onto make more than100 appearances for Union Berlin and 15 caps for Norway. The 25-year-old has very much risen with Union Berlin and is now a quality operator in one of Europe's biggest leagues.

Like Joao Mario, Ryerson offers versatility, playing a lot of his career in midfield, but now has established himself at full-back for both club and country. He is capable of playing at wing-back or as a standard full-back in a back four and offers a number of qualities similar to Kenny Tete, which may make him a perfect alternative for a player who has so often struggled with his fitness.

5. Josip Juranovic
After the signing of Ragnar Sigurdsson in 2016, you could argue that Fulham and Tony Khan would be wise to go nowhere near a player who has impressed at a recent major tournament, as Juranovic has done in Croatia's run to the World Cup semi-finals. With his form for club and country with Celtic and Croatia, you would find it strange that the Scottish champions would even consider selling, but with the signing of Alistair Johnson, Celtic seem ready to see Juranovic move on.

There's no doubt many clubs across Europe will show an interest with Juranovic's stock rising so much in Qatar, so this may be an option Fulham find themselves not wanting to be in a bidding war for. However if it gets late in the window and the Croatian is still available, it may become a viable option. With 27 international caps as well as European experience with Celtic and Hajduk Split, Juranovic looks like a player who would be of value to many a Premier League club, including Fulham.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2022-12-19-five-realistic-right-back-targets/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham turned down approach for striker – May need him as 'everything indicates' star will be sold

Brazilian side Grêmio made an attempt to sign Rodrigo Muniz from Fulham, according to reports from South America.

On YouTube, journalist Diogo Rossi says the transfer was a request from manager Renato Gaúcho, who previously worked with the striker at Flamengo.

Rodrigo Muniz is now having a loan spell at Middlesbrough, but it seems that didn't stop Grêmio from contacting Fulham about that move.

The attempt, however, was unsuccessful for a couple of reasons. First because the Whites aren't interested in loaning him out to Brazil.

Muniz has been on Middlesbrough's bench, and the Craven Cottage side would even accept sending him somewhere else for the rest of the season, but they'd rather have him in the Championship instead of sending him to South America.

Then Rossi brings some other interesting information, as he says 'everything indicates' Fulham 'will sell' Aleksandar Mitrovic, and in case they do that, they're ready to welcome Muniz back to the squad.

Playing for Middlesbrough this season, the Brazilian only has two goals in 16 appearances. He's often used at the club as a late sub, and hasn't been given a proper start since October.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/fulham-turned-approach-striker-may-need-everything-indicates-star-will-sold/

[WhiteJC]

Middlesbrough loanee attracting interest from abroad but parent club turn down approach

Fulham have knocked back an approach from Gremio for striker and on-loan Middlesbrough man Rodrigo Muniz, according to journalist Diogo Rossi

Muniz is currently plying his trade on loan at Middlesbrough in the Championship this season, and has scored two goals in 18 appearances so far. Although he started the campaign as the first choice number nine under Chris Wilder he has found playing time hard to come by in recent weeks.

With the arrival of new boss Michael Carrick, strikers Chuba Akpom and Marcus Forss have been the go-to duo to lead the line, with Muniz resigned to a spot on the substitutes bench alongside fellow summer signing Matthew Hoppe.

Muniz's parent club Fulham and the player himself may be looking at other options considering his lack of playing time, and this has put other clubs on high alert.

According to South American journalist Rossi, Brazilian side Gremio enquired about the possibility of loaning the 21-year-old, an approach which was knocked back by the Cottagers.

He states that Marco Silva's side would prefer to loan him to a Championship side, and they may even require his services in the first-team should they sell star man Aleksander Mitrovic next month.

Should he stay or should he go?
Muniz's move to Middlesbrough hasn't really worked out how all parties would have liked this season. He hasn't had the run in the side he would have wanted, nor scored the amount of goals he is capable of scoring and so he would be forgiven in wanted to weigh up his options.

With Carrick now in charge at Boro he may want to use the loan slot for a player who is going to improve the first-team as opposed to sitting on the bench week-in week-out. Whether the Teessiders cut his deal short, or Fulham recall him is another matter.

He enjoyed a successful spell at Flamengo before making the move to Craven Cottage and so a move back to his homeland could be a tantalising proposition for Muniz. But all parties will weigh up what's best for the player in the weeks and months to come.



https://the72.co.uk/2022/12/19/middlesbrough-loanee-attracting-interest-from-abroad-but-parent-club-turn-down-approach/

[WhiteJC]

Making the Case: Antonee Robinson for BioSteel U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year
USMNT Left Back Earns First Player of the Year Nomination

In a year where he achieved his World Cup dream, USMNT defender Antonee Robinson also earned his first nomination for 2022 BioSteel U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year. 

For the second year in a row, fans will have the opportunity to vote on select Player of the Year Awards, with the fan vote comprising 15% of the total vote. Nominees for all awards are selected by U.S. Soccer's technical staff. Voting for the awards starts Thursday, Dec. 15 at 11:00 a.m. ET and closes on Dec. 22 at 11:59 p.m. ET. The winners will be announced in the weeks that follow.

Let's take a look at some of Robinson's highlights from 2022:

    After finishing tied for the joint lead in World Cup Qualifying appearances with 13, Robinson also tie for the team lead in appearances with a career high of 14 during 2022 and finishing second with 1,122 minutes played during the calendar year.

    His 52nd minute strike helped the USA to a vital 1-0 win against El Salvador in World Cup Qualifying on Jan. 27, earning him Man of the Match honors in the process. 

    Exactly two months later, the active full back popped up with two assists to push the USA to a 5-1 win against Panama and virtually clinch qualification to the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

    Robinson started all four matches for the USA in Qatar, playing all but one possible minute after making way as a late-game substitute in the Round of 16 match against Netherlands.

    Led the team with 40 recoveries and seven interceptions across the four World Cup matches. 

    On the club front, Robinson appeared in 18 league matches, registering a goal and assist in the second half of the 2021-22 campaign to help Fulham claim the 2021-22 EFL Championship title and automatic promotion to the Premier League, earning EFL Championship Team of the Season honors in the process.

    Robinson has continued his impressive display for Fulham in the EPL this season, appearing in 13 of a possible 15 matches, aiding Fulham to a ninth-place position prior to the World Cup break.

This is the 25-year-old Robinson's first nomination for U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year. 



https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2022/12/making-the-case-antonee-robinson-for-biosteel-us-soccer-male-player-of-the-year

[WhiteJC]

Youth Team Take On Fulham Tuesday Night

Come down to the Crown Oil Arena on Tuesday night and cheer on our Youth Team!

They take on Premier League club Fulham in the third round of the FA Youth Cup, with kick-off at 7pm.

Tickets in the Main Stand are priced at £3 for adults and £1 for concessions (65+/21-and-under). They can be bought online HERE.

Dale have beaten York City and Shrewsbury Town to reach the third round, whilst Fulham enter at this stage along with all other Premier League and Championship sides.

The Ratcliffe Bar at the club will be open from 5pm if you want to come along early!



https://www.rochdaleafc.co.uk/news/2022/december/fayouthcup_fulhamhome_201222/