Saturday Fulham Stuff - 18/02/23...

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Fulham predicted XI vs Brighton as Marco Silva has some selection decisions to make

A look at how Fulham could line up this weekend as they eye another positive result

Fulham are back in action this weekend with a difficult away trip to face Brighton and Hove Albion. The Cottagers go into the clash on the back of their 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest at home last time out.

Marco Silva's side are level on points with the Seagulls in the table. Here is a look at how the visitors could line up:

GK: Bernd Leno: The summer recruit from Arsenal has made the number one spot his own at Craven Cottage ahead of Marek Rodak.

RB: Kenny Tete: He has competition for his place at right-back from January loan signing Cedric Soares.

CB: Issa Diop: The defender has stepped in ahead of Tosin Adarabioyo and has been putting in some solid performances over recent times.

CB: Tim Ream: He has formed a useful partnership at the back alongside Diop and continues to prove his worth to Fulham.

LB: Antonee Robinson: The USA international has been linked with Manchester City recently which shows how well he has been playing.

CM: Harrison Reed: The midfielder will be hoping to keep his place in the side ahead of new boy Sasa Lukic.

CM: Joao Palhinha: He has been a hit since his move from Sporting Lisbon last year and the Whites will be hoping they keep hold of him for as long as possible.

RW: Bobby Decordova-Reid: The versatile ex-Bristol City man is a useful player for Fulham to have in their squad.

CAM: Andreas Pereira: He has impressed since moving down to London from Manchester United.

LW: Willian: The experienced winger went off against Nottingham Forest and will be assessed ahead of the trip to Brighton.

ST: Aleksandar Mitrovic: He is the Cottagers' top scorer so far this term and has 11 league goals to his name.



https://www.londonworld.com/sport/football/fulham/fulham-predicted-xi-vs-brighton-as-marco-silva-has-some-selection-decisions-to-make-4031858

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Sources: Newcastle United make Fulham star Antonee Robinson top target amid Man City interest

Fulham star Antonee Robinson is the top target for Newcastle United as they plot a new left-back signing this summer, sources have told Football Insider.

It is believed that Magpies scouts have regularly watched the 25-year-old this season and have delivered rave reviews on his performances.

Playing for a club in the Champions League is understood to be an enticing prospect for Robinson – with Newcastle currently on course for qualification.

Eddie Howe wants an attack-minded left-back option with more pace – with versatile defender Dan Burn currently keeping Matt Targett out of the side.

The Magpies are not alone in their pursuit of United States international Robinson.

It is believed that he is the subject of interest from Premier League leaders Man City, as well as Italian giants AC and Inter Milan.

The left-back starred for the US at the World Cup in Qatar last year (2022), playing every minute before they were knocked out by the Netherlands in the Round of 16.

The Milton Keynes-born talent has been a fixture in the Fulham side this term – missing only one Premier League game through a yellow card suspension.

Robinson, who started his career at Everton, is under contract at Craven Cottage until June 2024.

Burn has claimed the role of first-choice left-back following a series of commanding defensive performances this term – but his 6ft 6in frame lacks the mobility to be an effective option for Howe's side in attack.

A more attack-minded and fleet-footed presence is the priority for Howe as he plots a summer signing.

Nevertheless, Football Insider revealed on Friday (17 February) that Burn is set to be rewarded with a new deal – with his versatility highly valued at St James' Park.



https://www.footballinsider247.com/sources-newcastle-united-make-fulham-star-antonee-robinson-top-target-amid-man-city-interest/

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Roberto De Zerbi drops Fulham selection clue on Brighton's January transfer signings

The 19-year-old Swedish international joined from Swedish side AIK last month and in the few short weeks he has been with Brighton he has impressed Roberto De Zerbi

Roberto De Zerbi says January signing Yasin Ayari has very big potential and could make his Brighton debut against Fulham this weekend.

The 19-year-old signed from Swedish side AIK late last month and in the few short weeks he has been with the Albion he has impressed his new head coach.

The midfielder, who can also play as a winger, was an unused substitute in the Seagulls' 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace last weekend but he will be hoping to get on the pitch against the Cottagers on Saturday.

Ahead of that contest, De Zerbi has given his chances of playing a boost after saying he wants to give him some minutes against Marco Silva's men. He has also been impressed by what he has seen so far from the Swedish international.

The Italian added that both Ayari and fellow teenager Facundo Buonanotte, who linked up with Brighton in January after agreeing to join from Argentinian side Rosario Central in November, could feature at the Amex.

"He [Ayari] has very big potential and has big, big quality. I would like to put him on the pitch tomorrow [Saturday], maybe not in the first XI but I want to let him play some part of the game," he told Sussex Live.

"In my head, there is this plan and it's the same for Facundo Buonanotte. Ayari is a midfielder with important technical and physical qualities. He is a complete midfielder."

Incidentally, the Albion will be without the injured Adam Lallana, Levi Colwill, Danny Welbeck, Billy Gilmour, and Jakub Moder for the visit of Fulham.



https://www.sussexlive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/roberto-de-zerbi-fulham-brighton-8161740

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Paul Merson issues Brighton vs Fulham prediction amid forecast for European goal

Brighton sit sixth in the Premier League with 35 points, the same tally as Fulham, although Roberto De Zerbi's men have a superior goal difference and have two games in hand

Arsenal legend Paul Merson believes the winner of Brighton against Fulham will secure European football next season.

The Albion sit sixth in the Premier League with 35 points, the same tally as the seventh-placed Cottagers, although Roberto De Zerbi's men have a superior goal difference and have two games in hand.

The London side won the reverse fixture 2-1 at Craven Cottage back in August but the Seagulls have picked up 11 points from their last five games whereas Saturday's visitors to the Amex have earned seven points from a possible 15.

If results go their way over the weekend, the victor could go one point within fifth-placed Tottenham and three behind Newcastle United, who currently sit in the final Champions League qualification spot.

Now pundit Merson says both teams are having outstanding seasons but has backed the Sussex outfit to come out on top in a 2-1 victory - a win that according to the former England international will play a big role in shaping both sides' campaigns.

"Brighton and Fulham are two sides that are doing unbelievably well at the moment. I'd fancy the winner of this game to get into Europe, and that's phenomenal for both teams. They're on 35 points each in the Premier League table but Fulham have played two games more than Brighton and will need the win more than their opponents," he told Sportskeeda.

"Fulham needed a brilliant goal from Willian to get the better of Nottingham Forest last week. I'm expecting goals in this match, and I think Brighton hold the upper hand this weekend."



https://www.sussexlive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/paul-merson-brighton-fulham-european-8158457

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Newcastle United make Fulham defender 'top target' amid Man City interest

Eddie Howe's side could be in for a busy summer transfer window but right now it's all about their next Premier League match against Liverpool.

There's plenty going on behind the scenes at clubs across English football's top flight whether it is takeover bids, the search for a new head coach or big plans for player recruitment.

Newcastle United, who welcome Liverpool to St James' Park for their next Premier League fixture later today, fall in the latter category and are expected to be in for a big summer. The Magpies continue to be linked with several players in multiple positions and the latest is a defender who has impressed for league rivals Fulham this season, but it is believed that Manchester City are also keen on his signature. Meanwhile, Eddie Howe is also focused on tying down a current star on a new deal and that could be about to happen soon. Here are the latest Newcastle United transfer news headlines on Saturday, February 18:

Newcastle United make Fulham star 'top target' amid Man City interest
A report from Football Insider claims that Fulham star Antonee Robinson is the top target for Newcastle United as they plot a new left-back signing this summer. It is said that United have been scouting the USA international this season and have been impressed with what they have seen.

As is this case with many potential recruits, playing in the UEFA Champions League next season could make all the difference and that is something the 25-year old is obviously said to be interested in. However, even if the Magpies do qualify for Europe's elite competition they could still face plenty of competition for Robinson's signing with Premier League rivals Manchester City and Serie A giant AC Milan also believed to have an interest in the player.

Newcastle United ready to open talks with defender
Sticking with Football Insider today who are also reporting that Newcastle United are ready to offer defender Dan Burn a new St James' Park contract. The former Brighton man, who signed for the club a year ago in a £13 million deal, has been a stand out for his boyhood club this season and his contract is said to be 'next on the agenda' for Eddie Howe after tying down Kieran Trippier on a new deal recently.

Burn has 18 months remaining on his current contract but his 'versatility and passion' as well as his impressive form has resulted in the club making a new deal a priority. Despite the towering defender's favoured position being centre back he has also been a revelation at left back this campaign.



https://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport/football/newcastle-united/newcastle-united-make-fulham-defender-top-target-amid-man-city-interest-4032480

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Newcastle eyeing up a move for 25-year-old Premier League defender

Newcastle United are reportedly keen on signing the Fulham defender Antonee Robinson.

According to a report from Football Insider, the Newcastle United scouts have watched the 25-year-old defender extensively the season and they are convinced that he could be a key player for them over the coming seasons.

Newcastle are hoping to bring in a specialist left-back and the Fulham defender could prove to be a quality acquisition.

Eddie Howe has had to use Dan Burn as his left-back this season and Robinson would be a more natural fit for that role.

The United States international is likely to be tempted if Newcastle come calling at the end of the season.

The Magpies have a good chance of securing Champions League qualification and the 25-year-old will want to experience European football with them. It would be a major step up in his career.

Meanwhile, the report adds that Premier League leaders Manchester City are keen on signing the player as well.

It remains to be seen whether Newcastle can convince the 25-year-old to move to St James's Park at the end of the season.

The defender has a contract at Craven Cottage until the summer of 2024 and Fulham could be forced to consider a potential sale if he does not renew his contract with them in the coming seasons.

With just one year left on his contract at the end of the season, the defender could be available for a reasonable price



https://www.caughtoffside.com/2023/02/18/newcastle-eyeing-up-a-move-for-25-year-old-premier-league-defender/

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Up next: Brighton and Hove Albion (a)
The excellent Alyson Rudd might have been overstating it slightly when she described her assignment of watching the two surprise continental contenders as 'sexy' in this morning's Times, but there certainly has been a sense of anticipation about Fulham's trip to the south coast this week. Part of that emerged from the way the Whites ended Nottingham Forest's fine start to 2023 at Craven Cottage last weekend, but the clash of Marco Silva's style and the way Roberto de Zerbi has immediately built on the fine foundations left for him at the AMEX by Graham Potter feels mouthwatering.

Albion were impressive in what turned out to be Potter's final full season at the helm, but they are well placed to easily better than their club record ninth place finish this term. De Zerbi's side are unbeaten in this calendar year, having won three of their five league fixtures and progressed to the fifth round of the FA Cup, and – although they are level on points with the Cottagers – the Seagulls have two games in hand on a number of the top eight. The Italian has made a massive impact on the south coast already as another astute appointment from Tony Bloom and Paul Barber, having steered Sassuolo to two eighth place finishes in Serie A and won the Ukrainian Premier League at the Shakhtar Donetsk, where he nurtured the talent of a certain Manor Solomon.

The Brescia-born former attacking midfielder, most famously for coming through the famed AC Milan youth set-up and becoming a bit of a cult hero at Foggia, has turned Albion in an even more dominant outfit than the one Potter led. Albion have enjoyed more than seventy per cent of the ball in six of the nine games since the turn of the year, an astonishing statistic that betters the four managed by Manchester City. De Zerbi can count Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp as amongst the group of elite coaches he has impressed, but he isn't inflexible having adapted his system to sometimes include the back three that Brighton utilised so successfully in Potter's time.

Albion are ferocious both in their pressing and how to punish mistakes, as they demonstrated against Liverpool recently, with the excellent Evan Ferguson – a bargain buy from Bohemians – hassling Joel Matip into a costly mistake. De Zerbi once outlined his passing philosophy to UEFA:

    "The possession always depends on the opponents' pressure. The tougher the pressure, the more vertical further development. The less opposing pressure, the greater our control of the match and possession of the ball will be."
    Roberto de Zerbi to a UEFA coaching course

The crucial second goal against Liverpool is instructive here – where Brighton followed a series of patient passes with quicker, more direct forward balls. The complexity of De Zerbi's approach will make life doubly difficult for Marco Silva, who was effusive in his praise for one of the game's best thinkers earlier this week. Fulham have done fine against opponents who hold onto the ball this season, but Albion are formidable at home. They have scored 39 goals already in Falmer this term – only Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham have managed more – and been particularly miserly at the back.

Silva's side will relish such a stern test of their top half credentials. This fixture should give us a truer indication of where the Whites stand, with Brighton in brilliant form and looking to match their record of top flight home wins as a victory over Fulham this afternoon would equal a previous three-match winning run in 2019. Fulham will need to watch for the creativity of World Cup winner Alexis MacAllister and Solly March, a thorn in the Whites' side in previous years, whilst maintaining the ruthless that they showed against Forest.

The Portuguese head coach may be tempted to select the same side that started against Forest, with only Tom Cairney and Neeskens Kebano sidelined for certain. Late fitness checks will take place as Aleksandar Mitrovic, Willian and Antonee Robinson had each missed training in the week leading up to this fixture. Given the trio's terrific form, Fulham will want them all available from the off this afternoon.

MY FULHAM XI (4-2-3-1): Leno; Tete, A. Robinson, Diop, Ream; Palhinha, Reed; Decordova-Reid, Willian, Pereira; Mitrovic. Subs: Leno, Cedric, Duffy, Adarabioyo, Lukic, Wilson, James, Solomon, Vinicius



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2023/02/up-next-brighton-and-hove-albion-a-3/

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