Monday Fulham Stuff - 10/04/23...

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Results

Sunday
Leeds	1-5	Palace
Liverpool	2-2	Arsenal

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Willian urges struggling Fulham to ensure fine season does not end on downer after fifth straight defeat

Fulham were beaten 1-0 at home by relegation-threatened West Ham on Saturday

Fulham midfielder Willian has challenged his team-mates to rediscover their "best level" across the final two months of the season in a bid to stop their campaign petering out.

The Cottagers were beaten 1-0 at home by relegation-threatened West Ham on Saturday, with an own-goal from the unfortunate Harrison Reed the difference between the two sides.

The result made it five successive defeats for Marco Silva's side since the start of last month, a run which has seen them knocked out of the FA Cup at the quarter-final stage and lose ground in the race for an unlikely European place.

Despite their poor form, Fulham remain in the top half of the table and have no concerns over another immediate return to the Championship but Willian insists they cannot allow complacency to set it.

"We will try to improve in training and will look to win the games ahead," he said. "We have been good this season, and played some good football.

"And we want to get back to our best level. Of course we don't want the season to end on a down, nobody wants that. We want to doing good things, and get back to that."

Fulham dominated possession against a West Ham side who set up to hit them on the counter-attack, but struggled to create clear openings, with Lukasz Fabianski enjoying a relatively comfortable afternoon in the visiting goal until making a superb intervention to deny Andreas Pereira late on.

The hosts were without Aleksandar Mitrovic, who was serving the second game of an eight-match ban, leaving former Tottenham forward Carlos Vinicius to lead the line.

"Aleksandar is a good player, a great player for us," Willian said of the Serbian's absence. "But yeah, we have players with whom we can find a way to play well still and win games.

"With Vinicius we tried hard to move the ball and have contact with him – sometimes we didn't do that. But we created some chances, playing between the lines.

"He made a great pass to Andreas. But it's a part of football sometimes – it can just not be your day, and then other times it is."



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/willian-fulham-west-ham-premier-league-2023-b1073101.html

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Liverpool eyeing summer move for 27-year-old PL star who will cost £50m

Liverpool are reportedly interested in signing the Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha at the end of the season.

According to a report from Give Me Sport, the 27-year-old midfielder has caught the attention of the Premier League giants with his performances for the London club this season.

Liverpool are looking to bring in midfield reinforcements at the end of the season and they are looking at the 27-year-old as a potential option.

The Reds have had a disappointing campaign so far and they are likely to miss out on Champions League football. Poor performances from the midfield has been the major reason why Liverpool have struggled to hit top form this season.

While players like Naby Keita and Thiago Alcântara have had injury problems, players like Jordan Henderson and Fabinho have regressed significantly.

Liverpool will have to rebuild their midfield at the end of the season and they have been linked with a number of players in recent months.

Palhinha has established himself as a quality midfielder since his move to the Premier League, and he has the ability to play for a top club.

The 27-year-old is reportedly valued at £50 million, and it remains to be seen whether Liverpool are prepared to pay that kind of money for him.

The Fulham midfielder is likely to be tempted if Liverpool comes calling with a concrete proposal in the summer. It would be a major step up in his career and he is likely to be keen on the move.

The 27-year-old midfielder will add defensive cover and drive to the Liverpool midfield. His high-energy playing style would be a good fit for Jurgen Klopp's pressing system as well.



https://www.caughtoffside.com/2023/04/09/liverpool-eyeing-summer-move-for-27-year-old-pl-star-who-will-cost-50m/

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Willian: Fulham must find 'best level' again
Willian has urged his Fulham team-mates to relocate the form that saw them surge into the top half of the Premier League table earlier in the season after the Whites suffered a fifth successive loss at home to struggling West Ham United yesterday.

Marco Silva's side struggled to unlock a stubborn opposition defence and ultimately paid the penalty for Harrison Reed's own goal midway through the first half. The defeat leaves Fulham stuck on 39 points – as they have been for almost a month – in tenth place in the table, but the wily Brazilian winger is eager to finish the club's campaign on a high.

He told the Evening Standard after the final whistle at Craven Cottage yesterday:

    "We will try to improve in training and will look to win the games ahead. We have been good this season, and played some good football and we want to get back to our best level. Of course we don't want the season to end on a down, nobody wants that. We want to doing good things, and get back to that."

Willian also refused to dwell on the absence of Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, who will be suspended for a further six games, whilst conceding that the centre forward has been pivotal to Fulham's success this season.

    "Aleksandar is a good player, a great player for us but we have players with whom we can find a way to play well still and win games. With Vinicius we tried hard to move the ball and have contact with him – sometimes we didn't do that. But we created some chances, playing between the lines. He made a great pass to Andreas. But it's a part of football sometimes – it can just not be your day, and then other times it is."



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2023/04/willian-fulham-must-find-best-level-again/

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Fulham: Joao Palhinha wanted by Premier League clubs

The midfielder could be on the move this summer.

Fulham's Joao Palhinha could be on the move this summer, with both Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur interested in signing the midfielder, according to journalist Dean Jones.

Which Fulham players could leave this summer?
Fulham have been in poor form as of late, losing their last five matches in all competitions, however it has still been a solid first season back in the Premier League, given that they are in no danger of being relegated, with nine games remaining.

As such, there is growing interest in some of the Cottagers' first-team players, with Aleksandar Mitrovic being targeted by the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, although Marco Silva is desperate to keep hold of the striker.

Both Arsenal and Spurs are also said to be targeting winger Manor Solomon, meaning it may be more difficult for Fulham to sign the Shakhtar Donetsk loanee permanently, with the Evening Standard reporting they intend to do so at the end of the season.

According to Jones, who was writing for GiveMeSport, Palhinha is being targeted for a summer move by Premier League sides Liverpool and Tottenham, but Silva is not willing to entertain offers at any level for the central midfielder.

The manager is hoping the board remain strong if any bids are tabled for the Portugal international, however he is likely to be worried, given that Fabio Carvalho and Harvey Elliott were previously poached from Fulham by Liverpool, and Ryan Sessegnon was signed by Spurs.

Should Fulham let Joao Palhinha leave?
Considering the 27-year-old is contracted until the summer of 2027, the Cottagers have no pressing need to sanction his departure, and given how difficult he would be to replace, any bids should be rejected this summer.

Hailed as "superb" by the media earlier this season, the no-nonsense midfielder has completed more tackles than any other Premier League player this season, registering 105, 16 more than Tyler Adams in second place.

The £50k-per-week maestro is ranked by Sofascore as Fulham's fourth-best performing player in the top flight, averaging a 7.07 match rating, while he is also aerially dominant, ranked in the 91st percentile for aerials won per 90 in the past year, compared to other midfielders.

If the likes of Liverpool and Tottenham come calling, Palhinha could well get his head turned and decide he wants to leave, but at the very least, the Cottagers should hold out for a huge transfer fee to sanction his departure.



https://www.footballfancast.com/fulham-premier-league-joao-palhinha-transfer-news/

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West Ham: VAR misses Vladimir Coufal handball

The Irons picked up a massive three points as they fight to avoid relegation, but the only goal of the game vs
Fulham perhaps should not have stood.

Referee Jarred Gillett and his VAR team may have made a big mistake in the most recent West Ham United win as they failed to spot a handball in the build-up to the only goal of the game

What's the latest on West Ham and VAR?
The Hammers gave their survival hopes a massive boost on the weekend as they picked up a huge three points in the Premier League.

Indeed, facing Fulham away from home, David Moyes and co were able to eke out a tight 1-0 victory thanks to an own goal by Harrison Reed.

Indeed, after Jarrod Bowen drove forward, beat his man and crossed from the byeline, the ball deflected off the Fulham midfielder past Bernd Leno.

This first-half deflection was the only goal of the game but it perhaps should not have stood as West Ham defender Vladimir Coufal appeared to handle the ball in the build-up.

Indeed, as seen in this image (via the Sky Sports highlights) the Czech right-back undeniably uses his arms to control the ball.



Was it a handball by Vladimir Coufal?
Coufal is battling for the ball with Fulham fullback Antonee Robinson and after using his arms to get away from his man, he digs out a cross.

The ball flies into the penalty box and is cleared just a few yards away to Bowen who then takes two touches before firing in an effort that deflects off Reid to give the goal.

Seeing as there are about 10 seconds between the handball and Fulham conceding, it feels as though this would be well within VAR's remit to get involved.

What's more, even without the use of technology, the referee and his assistant should have spotted the handball live – with the still image above showing the obvious contact.

Fulham boss Marco Silva certainly seemed to spot what the officials couldn't on the day. Indeed, when speaking to Sky Sports after the game, he made his frustration clear.

The manager said: "They scored through our own goal which should be disallowed because it was a clear handball from Coufal in the build-up. Why VAR didn't check that moment, it is difficult for us as it was right in front of the linesman."

It may have been a little fortuitous but West Ham fans won't care at all, as that win now lifts them three points above the relegation zone.



https://www.footballfancast.com/west-ham-news-whufc-updates-var-vladimir-coufal-handball/

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Marco Silva singles out Tosin Adarabioyo for praise after West Ham defeat

Fulham manager Marco Silva has singled out defender Tosin Adarabioyo for praise after their 1-0 defeat to West Ham United.

Silva was speaking at a press conference at full-time, via the club's official site, having served the latest match of his touchline ban.

It was a fourth league defeat on the bounce for Fulham, who couldn't defeat a struggling West Ham side.

The game was eventually decided by a Harrison Reed own goal, and although Fulham had plenty of the ball, they struggled to create many clear-cut chances.

The absence of Aleksandar Mitrovic was once again felt, with Carlos Vinicius failing to fill his albeit massive presence.

Fulham stuck with their tactic of firing crosses into the box, and West Ham dealt with this relatively easily.

However, it was Mitrovic's presence in the middle of the pitch that was most sorely missed, with Vinicius simply not capable of linking play like the Serbian.

Marco Silva decided to go with Tosin in the centre of Fulham's defence alongside Tim Ream.

He has been rotating with West Ham old Issa Diop all season, although the Frenchman has moved above him in the pecking order recently.

Tosin did himself plenty of favours yesterday though, being one of the few players to come away from the game with any credit.

Silva credits Tosin after Fulham defeat
Asked about the 25-year-old defender, Silva said: "And with Tosin, we know what we expect from him.

"Of course, quality on the ball in the first build-up, to find the players between the lines. Tosin had a good game and did what we expected."

The defender had a brilliant campaign in the Championship last season, and was even linked with a move to Newcastle.

Centre-back is one of the few positions where Fulham have sufficient Premier League quality depth.

Silva will have a decision to make ahead of their trip to Everton as to whether he starts Tosin again.

He was once angry with the officiating after Vladimir Coufal handled the ball in the build-up to West Ham's only goal.

It's the third time the Hammers have been accused of handball against Fulham this season, with all three goals given.

Although Fulham are all-but-safe, they'll be hoping their luck with referees changes soon.



https://tbrfootball.com/quality-marco-silva-singles-out-25-year-old-fulham-man-for-praise-after-west-ham-defeat/