Thursday Fulham Stuff - 12/01/23...

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Raheem Sterling, Loftus-Cheek: Chelsea injury news and return dates ahead of Fulham clash

Chelsea injury news: The latest injury news as Graham Potter's side set their sights on Fulham in the late pursuit of top-four

Graham Potter looks set to welcome back a number of players to the Chelsea squad ahead of the clash with Fulham at the weekend. The Blues head into the tie off the back of successive defeats against Premier League champions Manchester City and in desperate need of putting points on the table.

Chelsea are currently ten points from fourth-placed Manchester United and three points from Fulham, who sit in seventh. A win for the west Londoners will hand the side a huge boost as Potter looks to transform the club's fortunes amid a rut of uninspiring form.

The Blues can draw inspiration from the absence of star striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, who will miss the bout after picking up a fifth yellow card last weekend. So, with that being said, football.london has taken a look at all the latest injury news and return dates.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek
The midfielder joined his team-mates in training for the first time since November on Tuesday so it's unlikely he'll feature against Fulham. Having been deployed in a number of different positions so far this season, Potter will have missed the versatility that Loftus-Cheek brings to the Chelsea side.

What Potter said: ''Ruben is doing some work in the gym so we're hopeful that he can be involved next week but we'll see how he goes.''

Raheem Sterling
Sterling was replaced by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang inside the opening couple of minutes in Chelsea's Premier League clash with City. The 28-year-old winger fell to the floor with a grimace on his face following a collision with John Stones.

The Athletic reported on Friday that the forward is set for a scan on his hamstring to understand the extent of the injury he has suffered and understandably, Sterling was not named in the 18-man squad that travelled to his old stomping ground on Sunday, with Potter giving a brief update on the summer signing.

What Potter said: "Raheem had an action in the first minute of the game, a back heel that was a bit strange and felt something in his hamstring."

When asked about whether there was a specific timeline for his injury, he said: "No, not at the moment."

Injury: Hamstring

Expected return date: Unknown

Christian Pulisic
Pulisic was also subbed off with an injury on Thursday coming off worse in a tackle by John Stones. The United States international was visibly distressed as he went down twice following the challenge.

He was eventually replaced by Carney Chukwuemeka and also was absent from the matchday squad for the FA Cup clash against City

What Potter said: "Christian opened up his knee in the game the other day. We're still sorting of analysing it but it's going to be weeks I would say for him."

Injury: Knee

Expected return date: Fulham (H) Friday, February 3

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Aubameyang was a noticeable absentee from the Chelsea squad for the Blues' FA Cup third round fixture against Manchester City.

The former Arsenal captain was subbed off just past the hour mark in the league clash with City after being called off the bench in place of the injured Sterling.

What Potter said: "Aubameyang had a tight back yesterday so was unable to travel."

Injury: Back

Expected return date: Fulham (A) Thursday, January 12

Mason Mount
Mount missed the Premier League clash with City on Thursday with Potter confirming "he got a kick in training" also putting into doubt his involvement against City on Sunday.

The injury suffered by the 23-year-old does not appear to be serious though as he was named in Potter's starting XI to face Pep Guardiola's side, lasting 73 minutes before being replaced by Carney Chukwuemeka.

Expected return date: Fulham (A) Thursday, January 12

Edouard Mendy
Chelsea confirmed on Saturday that Mendy had undergone an operation on a fractured finger sustained during training this week, meaning he will be absent from the squad in the coming games.

The Senegalese shot-stopper missed the Bournemouth match and didn't even make the bench against Forest. He had previously come back from international duty in October with an injury but played for his club since then despite being replaced as No1 by Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Injury: Finger

Expected return date: Unknown

Reece James
Pulling up against Bournemouth, James has suffered a further injury after the defender missed the World Cup in Qatar. James has posted an image of himself and N'Golo Kante in recovery though, boosting Chelsea fans' mood in the new year with the caption: "On the mend."

What Potter said: "It's the same area, so we are concerned. It's really too soon [to tell]. We'll have to see over the next 24-48 hours. He felt something there and we will have to find out the extent of it and keep our fingers crossed."

Injury: Knee

Expected return date: Mid-February

Wesley Fofana
Having missed most of the season so far, former Leicester man Wesley Fofana's influence at the back has been somewhat felt in his absence. Kalidou Koulibaly and Thiago Silva have performed well, but the Frenchman will be keen to return to action soon.

What Potter said: ''Wesley had a little setback, which can sometimes happen at the very last stage of rehab, so he will be [out for] a couple of weeks."

Injury: Knee

Expected return date: Early January

N'Golo Kante
Having also missed the World Cup, 2018 winners France fell at the final hurdle, with some hinting that N'Golo Kante's influence may have been missed in midfield.

What Potter said: ''He'll be [the] end of Feb [or the] start of March. It's a surgery, so it's a minimum period of four months. My focus is to help him get back fit as soon as possible."

Injury: Thigh

Expected return date: Mid-February

Ben Chilwell
Again have missed large parts of the Blues season, fellow defender Ben Chilwell will be keen to get back fit and help Chelsea's chances of claiming a place in the top four this season.

What Potter said: "Ben has come back from his individual work in Dubai, and he's now working closer with the guys but still not team training."

Injury: Thigh

Expected return date: February

Armando Broja
Having pulled up nastily in the side's mid-season friendly against Aston Villa, Armando Broja could be heard reeling in pain as his knee injury more than definitely curtailed his 22/23 season. Having made quite the impression under Potter, it was a sad blow for the former Southampton loanee.

What Potter said: ''It was just an unfortunate action. He got caught up with their player and the ground. It doesn't look positive at the moment but it's too early to say. Fingers crossed but it is an awkward one.''

Injury: Knee

Expected return date: Late 2023



https://www.football.london/chelsea-fc/news/chelsea-injury-news-pulisic-mendy-25945983

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Huddersfield Town "increasingly likely" to sign Fulham player ahead of the weekend

Huddersfield Town are "increasingly likely" to recruit Fulham winger Anthony Knockaert ahead of Saturday afternoon's clash against Hull City, according to an update from Yorkshire Live.

The 31-year-old has spent the first half of the campaign on loan in Greece following his very limited role at Craven Cottage last season, playing barely any part in their promotion-winning campaign with others ahead of him in the pecking order.

And even though he has managed to seal a temporary exit from the English capital to Greek Super League outfit Volos, he has only made 11 competitive appearances for his current loan side this term.

Recording just one goal and one assist in the process, he could potentially be brought back from his spell there and sent to the Terriers who are keen to strengthen as they look to remain afloat in the Championship.

It was first reported on Monday by Football Insider that the Terriers were interested in striking a loan deal to take the Frenchman to the John Smith's Stadium for the remainder of the 2022/23 campaign.

And it's now becoming more and more likely that he will join the club ahead of Saturday's game against Hull, with Florian Kamberi and Matt Lowton already joining this month.

The Verdict:
The Frenchman hasn't been at his best for a while now and that's one reason why some Huddersfield supporters may be worried about this potential signing.

But when he's on top form, he can be a real asset at this level and has plenty of experience in the EFL, so it wouldn't be a major surprise if he becomes a major asset at the John Smith's Stadium if he links up with the Terriers.

He would be another solid and experienced signing following the arrival of Lowton from Burnley, though it may take the pair a bit of time to get up to speed following their lack of game time during the first half of the campaign.

It would be a surprise if the Cottagers blocked this potential move because they don't have any major reasons to do so – and that's why it's no shock that the Huddersfield are seemingly closing in on a move for him.

At 31, he should still have plenty to give to the West Yorkshire outfit and if he can help them remain afloat in the division, then this signing would have been worthwhile. You would certainly back him to make an impact.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/huddersfield-town-increasingly-likely-to-sign-fulham-player-ahead-of-the-weekend/

[WhiteJC]

'Crazy to do anything else': Chelsea face 50-year nightmare as dream hire an 'absolute shambles'

When Graham Potter got the nod to take over as the Blues' manager following predecessor Thomas Tuchel's shock sacking in September last year, it was a dream come true.

"I am incredibly proud and excited to represent Chelsea FC, this fantastic football club," Potter said at the time.

"I am very excited to partner with Chelsea's new ownership group and look forward to meeting and working with the exciting group of players and to develop a team and culture that our amazing fans can be proud of."

Fast forward just four months and suddenly what started out as a dream is quickly turning into a nightmare as key injuries, a lack of creativity and direction, and a string of poor results have combined to pile on the pressure for Potter as he faces questions over his job security.

Chelsea have had 29 permanent managers, with Danny Blanchflower holding the unwanted records of both the shortest (32 games) and statistically least successful (win percentage of just 16) reign in the club's rich 119 year history.

While Blanchflower's win percentage record is safe for the time being (Potter's win percentage currently sits at 44), his nearly 50-year record for shortest number of games in charge could be under threat should Potter fail to find a way to turn around Chelsea's alarming form of late.

Although it would seem highly unlikely that the former Brighton & Hove Albion manager will be sacked in the next 14 games (he currently has been in charge for 18 games), the possibility can't be ruled out for a proud club like Chelsea, who hold the EPL record for most manager changes (18*) and trail only Tottenham and Newcastle for most manager changes in-season (11*).

*Excludes caretaker managers

With pressure mounting on the Blues' manager ahead of Friday morning's (all times AEDT) crucial West London derby against Fulham at Craven Cottage following Monday's humiliating FA Cup thrashing at the hands of reigning Premier League champions Manchester City, Fox Football takes a look at the state of play at Chelsea.



https://www.foxsports.com.au/football/premier-league/epl-2023-chelsea-manager-graham-potter-facing-sack-as-poor-team-results-pile-on-pressure-premier-league-transfer-news-rumours-analysis/news-story/c0e98edc3d7c4f525f081666375f29a6

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3 wing-back replacements Luton Town could consider if Fulham strengthen their interest in James Bree

James Bree has emerged as one of Luton Town's most important players in recent seasons, providing both a solid defensive service and an attacking threat, predominantly from set-pieces.

During a time when the Hatters have been short of defensive options, with backline injuries becoming far too common, the 25-year-old has been a source of dependability for the Hatters.

The full-back, who has been given more attacking responsibilities under new boss Rob Edwards, has also had to be drafted into Luton's back three on occasions.

Showing a good level of versatility and adaptability when tasked with operating in a role that is now becoming increasingly familiar, that just adds to his importance at Kenilworth Road.

However, Premier League club Fulham are keeping an eye on the full-back this January, as per a report from the Daily Mail. 

The report suggests that Arsenal's Cedric Soares is the club's number one target and if they are unable to get that deal over the line, Bree as well as Max Aarons and Danny McNamara are being considered.

It does seem unlikely that a move for the 25-year-old does come to fruition during this month but if it does, and in the spirit of being as proactive as the Luton hierarchy, here, are three potential Bree replacements that could be considered...

Jack Stacey
Jack Stacey enjoyed a mightily impressive couple of seasons with the Hatters, with his stint coinciding with back-to-back promotions from League Two to the Championship.

Particularly influential during the League One-winning season, Stacey's marauding runs down the right flank and subsequent quality in the final third proved too hot to handle in the third-tier of English football.

With Bournemouth plying their trade in the Premier League once again, the flying full-back has been restricted to just 202 minutes of top-flight action.

Putting aside any romance of a Stacey return, if Bree was to depart, the 26-year-old's direct running and end-product would make him an ideal candidate for the right-wing-back role.

Regan Poole
One of Bree's most important traits is his versatility and that has proven vital during various points of this campaign.

Regan Poole would represent a similar kind of option, with the Lincoln City man able to operate as a right-sided centre-back, a full-back in a solid four and as a wing-back in the current system that Rob Edwards have deployed.

The Hatters have previously been linked with a move for the 24-year-old, who spent time at Manchester United during his development, however, with Poole's contract running out in the summer, the Bedfordshire club may opt to wait to sign the young defender. 

Cody Drameh
Cody Drameh is an exciting prospect progressing through at Leeds United, although opportunities in the first team have been rather limited for the 21-year-old.

Enjoying a productive loan spell with Cardiff City last time out, the England U21 international is hot property this January, with it being unclear what his future at Elland Road looks like.

A pacey, technically-gifted right-sided player, who can operate as a wing-back and out wide as part of a solid four, the Hatters could consider Drameh if Bree is to depart and if Leeds opt to hold on to the defender.



https://www.oakroadhatter.com/post/3-wing-back-replacements-luton-town-could-consider-if-fulham-strengthen-their-interest-in-james-bree

[WhiteJC]

Todd Boehly 'considers' Graham Potter sack as Fulham defeat 'could end' Chelsea reign

Todd Boehly is 'already considering Graham Potter's future' at Stamford Bridge as Mauricio Pochettino 'waits in the wings'.

The report in The Sun flies in the face of every other report or statement made by Chelsea, the concensus being Potter will be backed until the end of the season.

But that's no fun. The Sun reckon Potter is 'under huge pressure' after a run of just one win in seven games in all competitions.

It's claimed Potter has the remainder of January to 'turn things around', but also 'a poor result against local rivals Fulham tomorrow could see the end of his short reign'.

The report also states that former Tottenham boss Pochettino 'would be willing to take over if Chelsea called'.

The Argentinian has been out of work since being axes by Paris Saint-Germain in July and was linked with the Blues job before Potter was handed the reins.

Under-pressure Potter said of Sunday's defeat to City: "The first half was painful and tough for us all.

"We were second best to a very, very good side. We are not in a great moment and even though it was a cagey first 20 minutes we couldn't attack the backline well enough, we couldn't attack as well as we would like.

"Manchester City are very good at stopping you doing that but at the same time we struggled.

"In terms of the Premier League, we have lost four matches – to Newcastle away, when we had nine players unavailable, we lost 1-0 to Arsenal, we lost on a bad day to Brighton and we lost to Manchester City.

"We have also drawn to Manchester United and Brentford so the results in a small space of time aren't positive.

"You can make excuses and look for reasons or say it isn't good enough. Both of those answers are correct.

"We have to keep improving and stick together because clearly we are suffering as a football club and it's not nice at all. But that's where we are at the moment."



https://www.football365.com/news/todd-boehly-considers-graham-potter-sack-fulham-defeat-end-chelsea

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TARGET Chelsea close in on loan signing of Joao Felix, but Blues told Fulham star Aleksandar Mitrovic is 'perfect' and would get goals for them

Chelsea are set to sign Joao Felix on loan, but the Blues have been told they have a 'perfect' player for them across the road in Aleksandar Mitrovic.

It's hoped the acquisition of Felix, who will join for the remainder of the season from Atletico Madrid, will help them with their goalscoring troubles – Graham Potter's men netting just three times in their last four Premier League matches.

Their current striker options, Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang and Kai Havertz, have both been unable to make an impact for the club this season.

Signing the highly rated Portuguese forward Felix could be a coup for Chelsea, who are currently tenth in the Premier League, but talkSPORT's Micky Gray believes they should look to make a move for Mitrovic, who has been prolific for Fulham this season.

Gray told talkSPORT: "I think they need an out-and-out striker. What's wrong with Mitrovic, can they get him out of Fulham in January?

"If Chelsea have got the money like they say they've got, go and get him because he will get goals for Chelsea. I don't understand it.

"If you think about it, you're looking for a man who stays in between the 18 yard lines and scores goals.

"That's exactly what Chelsea need right now, whether you spend £40/50million on somebody like him. He's perfect for Chelsea right now."

Felix is on course to be their fourth signing this month, following arrivals of Benoit Badiashile, David Datro Fofana and Andrey Santos.

Meanwhile at Fulham, Mitrovic sits on 11 goals in 15 games during the Premier League so far this season.

The fellow west London side are currently seventh in the table, and will host the Blues on Thursday night, live on talkSPORT.



https://talksport.com/football/1299287/

[WhiteJC]

How should Chelsea line up in the West London Derby against Fulham?

Fulham vs. Chelsea, Premier League: You choose the starting lineup

Next up for Chelsea is the shortest away trip of the season, and the shortest away trip we could possibly have, as we travel a couple miles down the King's Road to take on Fulham at Craven Cottage.

It's the latest edition of this friendly neighborhood West London rivalry, though it's a bit unique in the sense that Fulham are above us in the table, which surely hasn't happened too often in our 87 previous meetings. Fulham have won just 11 of those, but they may just be the favorites for making Thursday's game their 12th (and first since 2006).

To say that Chelsea are going to have to play better than over the weekend, or even over large stretches of our past ten games, would be an understatement.

Ten players were ruled out against Manchester City, and barring any unexpected progress, they will be ruled out against Fulham as well. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang may be the least injured of the lot and thus closests to potential returning.

We did see a debut for new signing David Datro Fofana over the weekend, and fellow new arrival Benoît Badiashile could now be available as well.



https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/2023/1/11/23549789/how-should-chelsea-line-up-in-the-west-london-derby-against-fulham

[WhiteJC]

SW6 friends and foes: Five who played for Fulham and Chelsea

Stamford Bridge and Craven Cottage are separated by less than two miles, and over the years many have crossed the divide and played in the blue of Chelsea and white of Fulham. Here we look at some of the best to have done so ahead of the first of three London derbies this week...

Indeed, two members of the current Fulham squad, Willian and Nathaniel Chalobah, once wore our colours, while our number three keeper Marcus Bettinelli spent several successful years on the banks of the River Thames.

Before we meet our closest neighbours tomorrow night, we have picked out a collection of those who will always have two different ends of SW6 in their hearts...

Roy Bentley
Let's start with the great Roy Bentley. Captain of Chelsea's first title-winning side of 1954/55, and a scorer of precisely 150 goals for us as a centre-forward, Bentley moved to the Cottage a year after lifting the championship.

There he changed position twice, initially to right-half and then centre-half, and it worked wonders. He helped Fulham to the FA Cup semi-final in 1958 before playing 35 times as they won promotion to the First Division the following season.

Damien Duff
Fast-forward 50 years and another exciting attacker was making their mark in west London. We signed Damien Duff in 2003 as part of that summer's revolution, and the winger would go on to enjoy three wonderful seasons at the Bridge in which we won back-to-back titles and a League Cup.

He subsequently spent five years at Fulham, between 2009 and 2014, making 173 appearances and playing a crucial role in the Cottagers' dramatic journey to the Europa League final in 2010.

Clive Walker
Like Duff, Clive Walker was a tricky winger who loved to beat his man and get crosses in. He played just under 200 times for us having come through the ranks, famously netting a vital winner at Bolton in 1983 to stave off relegation from the Second Division.

After spells at Sunderland and another west London club, QPR, Walker joined Fulham in 1987, featuring regularly during three seasons at the Cottage.

John Dempsey
John Dempsey was a solid defender who rarely missed a game during 13 years of combined service to Fulham and Chelsea. A youth product of the first club, he made the £70,000 switch to Chelsea early in 1969, and within 18 months was an FA Cup winner after our legendary replay success over Leeds.

He played in both of those games, as he did in the Cup Winners' Cup final the following year, even scoring our first goal in the 2-1 replay win against Real Madrid in Athens.

Andre Schurrle
Andre Schurrle's Chelsea star burned briefly but brightly between 2013 and 2015. A useful attacker who could play anywhere in the forward line, arguably the highlight of his Blues career was the hat-trick he scored against Fulham at the Cottage in March 2014, not long before supplying the assist for the only goal in the 2014 World Cup final.

Despite leaving midway through the following season, the German collected a Premier League winner's medal. Schurrle later spent 2018/19 on loan at Fulham from Borussia Dortmund, scoring six times in his second west London stint. He retired in 2020, aged just 29.



https://chelseasupportersgroup.net/2023/01/sw6-friends-and-foes-five-who-played-for-fulham-and-chelsea/

[WhiteJC]

João Meets Ollie

Watch as Fulham superfan Ollie, visiting from Australia to watch his first Fulham game, is surprised by João Palhinha after celebrating with the Portuguese midfielder following his late winner v Southampton.

https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2023/january/11/joao-meets-ollie/

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Fan Survey 2022 – Results

At our AGM on Thursday 17 November, the Fulham Supporters' Trust revealed the initial headline results of the 2022 Annual Fulham Fan Survey. These were subsequently presented to Fulham senior management at the December club meeting. You can find the presentation we made to the Club here.

Over 1,400 fans took part in this fourth annual survey and were asked about a wide range of issues. The Trust board has now analysed the data and the full results are as follows.
Home match ticket prices

Ticket prices have seen large increases since our promotion to the Premier League. With the exception of one game (Brighton), tickets have been at least £50 for adults and £30 for juniors outside of the family areas. For some games the cheapest non-family area adult ticket has been as high as £65. This is what you told us:

    Match ticket prices have had a significant impact on the ability of long-standing Fulham fans to attend home games.
    Non-season ticket holders have attended one third fewer matches as a proportion from last season to this season, despite the positive results. 66% said that the cost of match tickets has had an impact on their ability to attend home games.

    One third of supporters who bought tickets last season have so far attended no games at all this season.
    A further quarter have only been once. This is in comparison to last season in the Championship when, on average, these fans say they would have attended seven home games across the season.

    The largest groups affected by the cost of match tickets are people who have supported Fulham for more than 20 years.
    However, over half of all other groups said this had a 'significant' or 'slight' impact.

Season tickets

    The clear majority (83%) are planning to renew their season ticket for next season.
    72% are 'satisfied' or 'very satisfied' with the cost of their season ticket. However, there has been a rise of 5% to 16% saying that renewal will be dependent on price.

    There has been an increase in season ticket price satisfaction across all areas of the stadium.
    This is in comparison to the last time we were able to ask this question in 2019/20 (the Riverside Stand wasn't open that season).

    The Riverside Stand has the lowest satisfaction with season ticket pricing.
    Only around a half of respondents said that they were at least 'satisfied' with the price of their season ticket with only 4% 'very satisfied'.

Craven Cottage experience

The facilities at Craven Cottage have been the focus of considerable feedback from supporters and discussions with the Club, particularly over the last 12 months. This involved a walk-around with board members from the Club and Trust to highlight the ongoing issues on matchdays. We therefore asked supporters about how they rate the Craven Cottage experience. Below is a table showing the weighted average of responses.

    Craven Cottage facilities are mostly rated 'poor' or 'very poor' across almost every area.
    Except for the partially open Riverside stand and the view, fewer than 30% of fans rated every aspect of the stand either 'good' or 'excellent'.

    The Hammersmith End was rated worst across every area.
    A very large proportion of supporters rated the concourse (80%) and toilets (78%) 'poor' or 'very poor'. This supports the feedback we regularly receive from supporters.

Fulham business model

The Club has previously explained that their business model is to move towards financial sustainability, an aim which we support. Given this, we asked fans which initiatives they would consider if the Trust is to continue to argue for moderation in ticket pricing, a different focus on commercial sponsorship and an improvement in facilities.

The most significant response was higher priced premium offerings (48%), with little appetite for increased season ticket prices (11%) or reduced expenditure on playing staff (8%). In fact, the second biggest response to this question (28%) was "none of the above" which is an area we intend to explore further during the course of the year and in surveys in future years.
Other areas

    Gambling sponsorship is getting less popular.
    Over half of respondents (up 7%) say they are uncomfortable with Fulham's main sponsor being a gambling company. There was a similar rise in the number of fans who choose not to purchase official club kit due to the gambling sponsor, whilst there was an increase of 11% in the amount of people who say that gambling sponsorship should be banned.

    Three quarters of people said that they support the idea of a supporter representative on an ethics committee.
    The main aim of this committee would be to advise on potential partnerships, an idea proposed in response to the Club's now cancelled Titan Capital Markets partnership earlier in the season.

    15% of Fulham fans said that they had been a victim of bad behaviour at football.
    A third of all respondents said that they thought behaviour was worse from before the Covid-19 pandemic. Worryingly, 10% responded to say that bad behaviour was having an adverse effect on their attendance at away matches.

    Over half of supporters said that their mental health had improved as a result of the return to football after the pandemic.
    Virtually nobody said their mental health was worse, with 37% saying it was unchanged.

    Support for safe standing remains as high as ever.
    However the amount of people who say they would purchase tickets in safe standing areas at Craven Cottage has fallen slightly.

    For the third year, 'highest league position' (66%) was considered the top measure of success for Fulham.
    Other measures which gained over 50% support were 'entertaining football', 'development of young talent' and 'remaining at / developing Craven Cottage'. Interestingly, 'sustainable football club' rose from 40% to 52% as a key measure last year, but has now dropped back to 38% support.

Our view

FST Chair Simon Duke said in response to the survey:

    Can I firstly thank all those who took time to complete the survey. It is important that we get as many people as possible to provide feedback for us to take to the Club so we can be truly representative of supporter views.

    The two major areas of concern raised by respondents were ticket prices and the facilities at Craven Cottage. Season ticket prices are viewed as reasonable but there are concerns regarding the price of individual match tickets. This has already been raised with the Club and we will continue to do so. It is to be expected that some parts of the ground will command premium pricing but we want to ensure that there remain other parts of the ground where, in line with our family ethos, pricing will be affordable for all.

    There is still a high level of dissatisfaction with the standard of facilities apart from the new Riverside Stand. We have discussed with the Club on a number of occasions the concerns raised by members and will continue to do so. A "walk-around" was undertaken in the summer and we are continuing to press on the actions. Spectator safety remains paramount.

    We will also continue to table in our discussions with the Club views on gambling sponsorship, where the majority of respondents are not supportive, fan behaviour, ethics and safe standing.

    Our membership is now at its highest level for some time and we are always keen to welcome new members. For those who completed the survey but are not yet FST members could I please encourage you to join.



https://www.fulhamsupporterstrust.com/news/2023/01/fan-survey-2022-results/

[WhiteJC]

Report: Tottenham eyeing move for 27-year-old Portugal international

GiveMeSport have claimed that Tottenham Hotspur hold an interest in signing Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha.

Antonio Conte has four trusted central midfield options at his disposal in the form of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Rodrigo Bentancur, Yves Bissouma and Oliver Skipp while Papa Matar Sarr also demonstrated plenty of promise in the games against Crystal Palace and Portsmouth.

Despite this, the North London club continue to be linked with central midfielders, with the likes of Fiorentina's Sofyan Amrabat (Foot Mercato), Brighton's Alexis Mac Allister (CMW.it) and Saussolo's Davide Frattesi (TMW) all mooted as targets over recent weeks.

Now another name has been put forward in the form of Palhinha, who has impressed since leaving Sporting Lisbon to join Fulham in the summer.

GiveMeSport have claimed that the Portugal international's consistency at Craven Cottage has caught the attention of some big hitters including Spurs.

The report adds that Conte's men could face competition from Liverpool for Palhinha, with the Reds said to have explored a move for the 27-year-old before he joined Fulham in the summer.

Spurs Web Opinion
If Tottenham to sign a midfielder during the current transfer window, it will likely be a number eight in the mould of Frank Kessie or Weston McKennie. I do not see the point of signing yet another number six as that is an area where we are fairly well stocked at the moment.



https://www.spurs-web.com/spurs-news/report-tottenham-eyeing-move-for-27-year-old-portugal-international/

[WhiteJC]

How do Fulham tackle Chelsea without Mitrovic?

Jack Stroudley looks at our attacking options ahead of the upcoming London derby.

Fulham have been in fine form since the World Cup restart, winning four out of four in all competitions, scoring eight goals and only conceding one goal – from a set piece. Marco Silva has restarted the campaign in the perfect way, with some fans even starting to whisper about a European tour. But let's not get carried away; a tough run of fixtures now greets Fulham starting with the big one: Chelsea.

While we arrive at this game with a lot more confidence than 'those lot from down the road', the loss of Aleksandar Mitrovic to suspension can't be overlooked. The Serbian has been pivotal, and is a key reason why we currently sit where we are in the table. That being said, Fulham do have a lot of different attacking options now. So how do we prepare for Thursday without the main man?

The obvious option
The clear and obvious option comes in the form of Carlos Vinicius. The Brazilian forward is the most similar player we have to Mitrovic, and showed in the mid-season friendly against West Ham that he can be a nuisance, holding off defenders, bringing others into the game and even being potent enough in front of goal to score. While it's apparent that he doesn't have the eye for goal that Mitrovic has, if Marco Silva wants to systematically keep things the same on Thursday night, then Carlos Vinicius will be the man.

The alternatives
If Silva was to change things up we do have a couple of options that would allow Fulham to play with a 'false nine'. The first of those is Bobby De Cordova-Reid, who has shown his versatility throughout the season, playing both at right wing and also at right-back. The Jamaican international has a clear eye for goal and our second-top scorer of the season so far with four goals. While De Cordova-Reid doesn't have the pace of others that will be mentioned later on this list, he certainly makes up for it with technical ability and an eye for goal. Bobby would allow us to play with more fluidity and provide us with the opportunity to play balls in behind for him to latch onto.

The other real contender that could start up front is Dan James. The pacey winger on loan from Leeds would be good for this role for that sole reason: his pace. We've seen in bursts this season the ability that James possesses, being in the right place at the right time both against Manchester United and Hull City to score. While he lacks the technical ability of De Cordova-Reid, his speed and pressing could cause an ageing and out of form Chelsea defence a world of problems. Willian also deserves a slight mention in this list but I really can't see that happening, Azpilicueta is out of form and Willian's pace up against that could give us a good chance of getting something from the game.

The final verdict
I would go with Vinicius up top. I can't see Marco Silva drastically changing how we play because of a player being out for one game. Mitrovic has only scored two of our eight goals since the World Cup restart so players all over the pitch will have the confidence that they can grab the decisive goal. I would start De Cordova-Reid on the right to help double up defensively when necessary and leave Dan James on the bench for some pace towards the end of the game when the pitch starts to open up a bit more. With all this being said, this is Fulham's best chance of a result against Chelsea in years and even with Mitrovic out, I think we still have enough to get a result.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2023-01-11-how-do-fulham-tackle-chelsea-without-mitrovic/

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Fulham have 'returned to evaluating' January move for defender – Other target asked for too much

Following a poor performance against Sassuolo, Rick Karsdorp found himself lambasted publicly by José Mourinho and dropped entirely from the team.

This has led the Dutchman to seek an exit, with Fulham reportedly interested in welcoming him as Marco Silva tries to add a new right-back at Craven Cottage.

Talks were said to have started, but the Premier League side then got distracted by Cédric Soares, whom the Portuguese manager knows well.

However, according to Gazzetta dello Sport, it appears the Arsenal man asked for a bit too much money, and that's why Fulham have 'returned to evaluating' the profile of the AS Roma player.

The Serie A side want to get rid of him permanently in January, meaning they will only accept an outright sale or a loan with an obligation to buy at the end of it.

Whether Fulham do meet these demands remains to be seen, but they are warned that they have competition in the shape of Marseille, with whom Tiago Pinto, AS Roma's technical director, boasts 'an excellent relationship'.

Therefore, the Craven Cottage side might need to move quickly for Karsdorp if they are intent on getting him in the coming weeks.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/fulham-returned-evaluating-january-move-defender-target-asked-much/

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Max Aarons from Norwich to Fulham: What do we know so far? Is the transfer likely to happen?

For years now, Norwich City defender Max Aarons has had to deal with speculation over his future.

Indeed, having impressed so often in the Championship and Norwich unable to cement themselves in the Premier League, the young defender has always been a name linked with a move away following a relegation, for example.

Despite that, though, he has remained at Carrow Road, and continues to feature for the club in the second tier.

Indeed, so far this campaign, Aarons has racked up a further 25 Championship appearances and counting.

However, with his contract due to expire in 2024, it looks as though the young defender's time with the Canaries could come to and end this summer.

Recent reports, though, could even bring that forward.

What do we know so far?
Indeed, that is because Fulham are potentially eyeing a move for the right full-back during the January transfer market.

That is according to Mail Online, who report that the Norwich full-back is being eyed as an alternative to Arsenal's Cedric Soares should Fulham's move for the Portuguese defender fall through.

It is said that there is a chance the proposed move of Soares to Craven Cottage could break down to due personal terms not being agreed.

According to the above report, Fellow Championship full-back's Danny McNamara from Millwall and James Bree from Luton Town are also viewed as alternatives, alongside Aarons

Is the transfer likely to happen?
I think at this stage you'd have to say it's more unlikely to happen than it is likely.

The main reason for that being that Max Aarons is not even Fulham's primary target for the position, and until their move for their target falls though, nothing will likely happen with regards to the Norwich full back.

Not only that, but if the Soares move does fall through, although Aarons is reportedly seen as an alternative, he is seen as one of many, rather than 'The'.

That means that for this move to go through, the Soares deal would have to be off, and Aarons fancied above the other potential targets mentioned.

Whilst that isn't wildly unrealistic, at this stage at least,  at this stage, it appears the transfer is a long way from happening.

But things can change quickly in football, especially in the transfer market.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/max-aarons-from-norwich-to-fulham-what-do-we-know-so-far-is-the-transfer-likely-to-happen/

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Joao Felix Chelsea availability revealed for Fulham clash after Atletico loan deal announced

Chelsea have completed the loan signing of Joao Felix from Atletico Madrid and Graham Potter can select the Portugal international for the Blues' clash against Fulham on Thursday night

Chelsea have confirmed they have signed Atletico Madrid forward Joao Felix on loan until the end of the season in an attempt to bolster the depth in Graham Potter's squad.

Potter has come under increased pressure in recent weeks with his Blues side on a poor run of form. The Chelsea head coach has seen his team beaten six times in the last nine matches in all competitions and in that time they have managed to score on just five occasions.

Chelsea have 10 first-team players out with injury problems at the moment and the squad is undoubtedly depleted. However, Potter is not looking for excuses and he accepted following the 4-0 FA Cup third round defeat to Manchester City that his side are really struggling.

"Well, the results in terms of the Premier League, I think we've lost four matches," Potter told reporters at the Etihad Stadium. "Newcastle away before the World Cup when we had nine players out, we lost 1-0 to Arsenal, we lost on a bad day at Brighton, and I think we lost to Man City.

"Those are the teams we've lost to and we've drawn against Manchester United and Brentford, so the results in a small space of time are not positive. Like I've said, you can make excuses and look for reasons or you can say it's not good enough.

"Both of those answers are correct so we have to keep improving and stick together because clearly we are suffering as a football club and it's not nice at all. That's where we are at the moment."

Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly has already spent way over £50million this month with three new signings to try and help Potter. Saying that, all three players – David Datro Fofana, Benoit Badiashile and Andrey Santos – are 21 or under, so they may be recruitments with more than an eye on the future rather than helping the squad immediately.

Fofana did make his debut against Man City, though, coming on at half-time at the Etihad. Badiashile was also in the squad but the 21-year-old defender was an unused substitute in Manchester.

Chelsea are expected to pay the Spanish club around £9million for the loan signing of Felix, who has been watched on numerous occasions this season by Blues scouts. football.london were told last month that the interest in Felix was 'tentative' and nothing more, but that has ramped up in recent days and the club have now completed the loan deal.

However, Atletico did not want to include an option to buy in the contract.

The Blues faced a race against time to field the Atletico forward against Fulham in the Premier League on Thursday night. The Blues know it's a must-win game against their west London rivals as the pressure continues to mount on Potter.

As per the Premier League regulations handbook, if Felix was to feature at Craven Cottage, he needed to be officially registered as a Chelsea player by 12pm on Wednesday afternoon.

The rulebook states: "Subject to the provisions of Rule V.1, the deadline for receipt by the Board of all duly completed documents required by these Rules to effect the registration of a Player shall be 12 noon on the last Working Day before the date of the first League Match in which the Club making the application intends him to play, save that the international transfer certificate and evidence of eligibility to take up employment in the United Kingdom (in both cases if applicable) may be provided thereafter (but must be provided before the Player is eligible to play for a Club in a League Match)."

The club statement from Chelsea announcing his arrival was put out at exactly 12pm which would indicate all the required forms and applications had been signed this morning (Wednesday) and therefore the 23-year-old can make his Blues debut against Fulham on Thursday.

Raheem Sterling and Christian Pulisic, who both came off injured in the Premier League defeat to Man City last week, are set for a spell on the sidelines with their respective problems which makes Felix's arrival in time for the London derby pivotal if Chelsea which to take any points off their in-form neighbours.



https://www.football.london/chelsea-fc/transfer-news/joao-felix-fulham-chelsea-atletico-25941971

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Chelsea agree deal to sign third most expensive player in history

Chelsea return to action on Thursday when they make the short trip to face Fulham at Craven Cottage. 

Graham Potter's side have won just one of their last ten matches across all competitions, but they will be looking to pick up three points against The Cottagers on Thursday.

The Blues are currently suffering with injuries to a number of key players including Ben Chilwell, Reece James and N'Golo Kante, while several other names have been in poor form of late.

With that in mind, owner Todd Boehly looks set to be active in the transfer market this month, and The Blues have just completed their third signing.

As announced by the club, Portugal star Joao Felix has completed a six-month loan move to Stamford Bridge.

The 23-year-old moves to London from Spanish club Atletico Madrid, who paid more than £110 million to sign the star back in 2019; a deal that made him the third most expensive player in football history.

He has made more than 130 appearances for the La Liga side since then, but his relationship with manager Diego Simeone has reportedly soured this season.

Atletico were therefore willing to allow Felix to leave on loan, and Chelsea apparently appealed more to him than proposed moves to Manchester United or Arsenal, who were also interested, according to David Ornstein.

The attacking midfielder has scored 34 goals during his time in Spain, including four goals in 14 league games so far this term.

He will add some much needed creativity to Potter's side, with The Blues having scored just three goals in their last seven matches.

"Chelsea is one of the great teams in the world and I hope to help the team reach their objectives, so I am very, very happy to be here and very excited to play at Stamford Bridge," the attacker said when joining the club.

It remains to be seen whether or not Felix will be involved in Chelsea's trip to Fulham on Thursday, with their home fixture against Crystal Palace on Sunday more likely to mark the player's debut.



https://www.shoot.co.uk/chelsea-agree-deal-to-sign-third-most-expensive-player-in-history/

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Chelsea Predicted XI vs Fulham: Does Badiashile start in a 4-3-3?

Chelsea face Fulham on Thursday evening as Graham Potter's side aims to return to winning ways. Here is the Chelsea predicted XI vs Fulham.

Chelsea predicted lineup vs Fulham

Kepa Arrizabalaga, No. 1, Goalkeeper
Kepa Arrizabalaga has long since completed his comeback, granted, he didn't have anything close to a good game against Manchester City in the FA Cup. Edouard Mendy is also injured but even if he wasn't, he won't start.

Cesar Azpilicueta, No. 28, Right back
Azpilicueta was rested against Manchester City as he is the only fit right back that is registered to the club. Trevoh Chalobah was tried at right back against Man City, and he kept getting dribbled past.

Benoit Badiashile, No. 4, Centerback
Benoit Badiashile is yet to play a game for Chelsea, but Chelsea fans hope to see him soon and hope he has a magnificent game. Badiashile will likely show many of his great qualities against Fulham like his passing and aerial dominance.

Thiago Silva, No. 6, Centerback
Thiago Silva was definitely rested against Man City because of the Fulham game. He's currently the best at ball progression and building out from the back.

Marc Cucurella, No. 32, Spain
Marc Cucurella has come under a lot of criticism in the last few weeks, but it's difficult to know whether it's people taking their anger at the manager on a player they perceive to be his favorite. Cucurella hasn't been great (who has?), but he's also not being horse manure. He's a very good tackler and passer of the ball, so if he's doing that then he's delivering what he's paid to deliver.

Jorginho, No. 5, Central midfielder
Jorginho hasn't been good this season, but he's still needed in games because he seems to be the only one at the club who can play as a siting midfielder who helps the club bring the ball out of the back and distribute

Mateo Kovacic, No. 8, Croatia
Mateo Kovacic was frustrating against Man City and he needs to seriously cut out the unnecessary dribbles as it doesn't help him or the team.

Denis Zakaria, No. 20, Central midfielder
Denis Zakaria has been Chelsea's best midfielder in the past few weeks. His defensive work has been impressive. He simply deserves to start over any other midfielder at the moment.

Hakim Ziyech, No. 22, Right winger
Hakim Ziyech has been OK in the last few games, considering the sheer lack of minutes he's gotten at the club this season. He had a great world Cup, executing the tasks demanded of him impeccably. He had some very good linkup play that was ruined by Mount.

He went off almost exactly the hour-mark. Expect Ziyech to start again. The Moroccan is the only one who came into the team with an actual reputation of being a chance creator by trade.

He's also the only one that came in having played the role of Chief Creator for a multiple title winning side. Chelsea needs a Chief Creator now, can he be the one?

Carney Chukwuemeka, No. 30, Left winger
Carney Chukwuemeka looked good against Manchester City in the league game last weekend. Many Chelsea fans have reason to be excited about him. He has done a better job of securing a starting spot for the next game, than anyone else vying for his position

Kai Havertz, No. 29, Striker
Kai Havertz is joint top scorer for the Blues in the League this season. He created four chances in the league game against Manchester City. He deserves to start this game.



https://theprideoflondon.com/2023/01/11/chelsea-predicted-xi-fulham/

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Graham Potter makes claim over whether Joao Felix will feature for Chelsea against Fulham tomorrow

Graham Potter has claimed in his pre-match press conference that Joao Felix is physically ready to feature for Chelsea tomorrow night against Fulham.

He went on to say that the Blues are just awaiting the confirmation of his registration in order to put him in contention for a start in the West London derby.

The club today confirmed the forward had joined on a temporary basis, coming on loan until the end of the season.

There is currently no clause that suggests Chelsea have an obligation, or even an option, to buy him permanently when that loan comes to an end.

The 23-year-old has been brought in to try and help solve the creativity issues that have made things extremely difficult at Stamford Bridge this season.

Potter could start Felix
Their top assister in the Premier League sits on just two assists, an unacceptable feat for a side with the ambitions of Chelsea.

Potter has claimed now that he is hoping to have the Portugal star available as early as tomorrow.

He said: "He's been training regularly and had game time, so physically he can go in. There's a little unknown with the adaptation period, it can be case-by-case. I see a confident player, who can impose himself, make the difference in the final third."

"Nice to get him training today, we are still waiting on confirmation [of registration] for him to play [against Fulham]."

If available, Felix may walk straight into the starting line-up due to a number of injury issues at Stamford Bridge.

Raheem Sterling and Christian Pulisic will both be missing for a while after suffering injuries against Manchester City, leaving their depth out wide extremely dry.

Felix will be hoping to quickly form a relationship with wing-back Reece James, after claiming he has already met him before joining the club.



https://www.thechelseachronicle.com/news/graham-potter-makes-claim-over-whether-joao-felix-will-feature-for-chelsea-against-fulham-tomorrow/

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Fulham XI vs Chelsea: Confirmed team news, Mitrovic replacement, injury latest and predicted lineup

Fulham boss Marco Silva says Carlos Vinicius is the "main solution" to fill in for Aleksandar Mitrovic against Chelsea on Thursday.

Mitrovic is suspended for the match at Craven Cottage after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season in Fulham's last game against Leicester.

Former Tottenham striker Vinicius is set to come in and lead the line, but Dan James and Bobby Decordova-Reid are also options.

"The main solution is Vinicius, but we have other solutions as well," said Silva.

"Bobby can play there, James can play there as well and it is up to me to decide what will be the best one to start the game tomorrow."

Mitrovic is Fulham's top scorer and he has found the net 11 times in the Premier League so far this season.

His absence for the clash with London rivals Chelsea is a major blow, but it will help the striker recover from an ankle issue that has been troubling him since before the World Cup.

"He is getting better and better and better," said Silva.

"Now he is training every single day with his team-mates. After the matches we don't need a long time to recover him from the game before.

"All these things are a good sign for us and that we are going to have him even better in the next few games."

Predicted Fulham XI (4-2-3-1): Leno; Tete, Diop, Ream, Robinson; Palhinha, Reed; Decordova-Reid, Pereira, Willian; Vinicius.



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/fulham-xi-vs-chelsea-fc-confirmed-team-news-mitrovic-injury-latest-predicted-lineup-premier-league-2023-b1052331.html

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Chelsea Matchday Preview

CHELSEA V FULHAM | THURSDAY 12TH JANUARY 2023 | 8PM | CRAVEN COTTAGE | #FULCHE

The opposition

    Chelsea's recent results have been patchy with only one win in seven, that victory coming against Bournemouth in their first game back from the World Cup break.
    Despite winning his first three Premier League matches in charge, boss Graham Potter has so far failed to turn their fortunes around following the departure of Thomas Tuchel in September.
    They currently sit tenth in the Premier League table, and were comprehensively knocked out of the FA Cup following a heavy 4-0 defeat to Manchester City in their last game.

Fulham team news

Marco Silva will be without top scorer Aleksandar Mitrović, who is suspended for picking up five yellow cards. Shane Duffy will miss out through illness, while Neeskens Kebano remains sidelined with his long-time injury.

Chelsea team news

Graham Potter's long injury list includes Christian Pulisic, Raheem Sterling, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Ben Chilwell and N'Golo Kante. The Blues are waiting for Premier League confirmation to find out if new loan signing Joao Felix has been registered in time to play.

Tickets

Tickets are on sale to supporters with a previous booking history and can be bought online.

Weather

There will be light clouds and a moderate breeze in SW6, with temperatures around 9-10°c in the evening.

Coverage

FFCtv subscribers can listen to live commentary from Gentleman Jim and Jamie Reid.

Fan behaviour

We encourage a welcoming environment at Craven Cottage and we would like everybody's matchday experience to be enjoyable.

If you experience or witness any instances of racist, homophobic or anti-social behaviour please use the Club's free text service by sending the word FULHAM plus details of the issue to 60066. Remember to include as much detail as possible such as where and when the situation had taken place.

We should like to make supporters aware that the Crown Prosecution Service now considers the term 'rent boy' a homophobic slur and a hate crime. It has indicated it will take criminal action against supporters using the term, which could also result in the Football Association sanctioning the Club.

Top scorers

Fulham: Aleksandar Mitrović (11)

Chelsea: Raheem Sterling (6)

Form

Fulham: LWWWW

Chelsea: LWDLL



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2023/january/11/chelsea-matchday-preview/