Thursday Fulham Stuff - 11/05/23...

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Mbabu set for talks over Fulham future
Kevin Mbabu will hold talks over his Fulham future in the close season with a view to securing a move away from Craven Cottage.

Speaking to the Swiss broadsheet Blick, Mbabu confirmed that he will be seeking first-team football having been loaned out to Servette after making just seven appearances under Marco Silva since signing for the Whites last summer.

The Swiss full back, who missed out on a place at the winter World Cup in Qatar, said:

    "At the moment my focus is on the last four games of the season. I just want to give everything for the club, for Geneva, for the city. And then I'll have all of June to think about it. We are in contact. Not regularly, but we are in contact. At the end of the season, we will talk together about how to proceed."



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2023/05/mbabu-set-for-talks-over-fulham-future/

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West Ham United want to hire Marco Silva as £6m development emerges at Fulham

Marco Silva is on a list of potential successors for David Moyes if the Scot leaves his position as West Ham manager in the summer, according to the Daily Mail.

Veteran Moyes led the Hammers to a seventh-place finish in the Premier League last season but has found the going tougher this time out with the club mixing domestic and European duties.

West Ham are 15th in the table and all but safe due to a seven-point gap to the drop zone with only three games to play, while they are also in the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League.

Fulham boss Silva has plenty of admirers with the Cottagers sitting 10th through 35 games of their first season back in the top flight and the Portuguese has a £6million release clause in his contract, according to the Mail report.

Time for Hammers to make their move
Moyes has done a fine job since returning to the London Stadium for a second spell in charge in December 2019, helping the club stave off relegation in the 2019-20 campaign.

Last term was a mightily impressive one for the Hammers, who flirted with Champions League qualification before falling away.

But there is a feeling that perhaps the club have hit a ceiling and with interest in Silva sure to be high – Tottenham, Crystal Palace and Leicester City are among the teams looking for a long-term boss – then it feels the right time to make a move.

Moreover, the swashbuckling, front-foot football employed by Silva would seem to fit with the fabled "West Ham way" and the Portuguese feels like a natural fit for West Ham.

He may feel he has unfinished business at Craven Cottage but, similar to Moyes at West Ham, it may be that he has taken Fulham as far as he can.



https://www.westhamzone.com/news/west-ham-united-want-to-hire-marco-silva-as-6m-development-emerges-at-fulham/

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Saints Foundation to feature on shirts for Fulham game

This year's Saints Foundation Charity Matchday takes place on Saturday 13 May when Saints play Fulham, and we're asking you to show your support.

Main Club Partner, Sportsbet.io, has donated their shirt sponsorship to our charity Saints Foundation for the upcoming game against Fulham, alongside pledging to match funds raised by supporters of up to £10,000.

Fans have the opportunity to win one of these money-can't-buy limited edition shirts by entering Saints Foundation's prize draw. Entrants also have a chance of winning a hospitality box for Saints' final game of the season against Liverpool, with the prize able to be enjoyed by up to 10 people.

The Charity Matchday will give Saints Foundation the platform to cast a spotlight on some of the inspiring stories of participants who have transformed their lives with the charity's support, with a particular focus on mental health as the game falls in the lead-up to Mental Health Awareness Week (15th–21st May).

With 24% of Southampton residents saying they have poor mental wellbeing, there's never been a more important time to support the local community. As part of Saints Foundation's new plan to Support Southampton, they have committed to improving mental wellbeing in every participant, regardless of their age or the project they are engaged with. This appeal will provide vital funds to make their vision a reality.

In the above video, you can hear from three individuals from different walks of life that have boosted their mental wellbeing with Saints Foundation's support.

Last year, 64% of adults across Saints Foundation projects boosted their mental wellbeing with our support – and this season, they've launched Saints By Your Side, their first ever programme focused solely on supporting mental health. It's providing a lifeline to men in Southampton, giving them a safe space to talk and learn ways to better manage their wellbeing.

A £20 donation – that's 4 entries to the prize draw – could fund a week of mental health support for a Saints By Your Side participant.

If Saints Foundation can reach its £10,000 target this charity matchday, your generosity could pay for the team to run two months' worth of group and 1:1 mental health support for a group of adult men on the Saints By Your Side programme.



https://www.southamptonfc.com/news/2023-05-10/saints-foundation-to-feature-on-shirts-for-fulham-game

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Southampton to wear changed kit for Premier League clash this week against Fulham at St Mary's

Southampton take on Fulham at St Mary's this Saturday afternoon and the team will be wearing a special version of their home kit for the occasion


Kyle Walker-Peters pictured wearing a special Southampton FC shirt with the Saints Foundation logo on the front
(Image: Matt Watson/Southampton FC via Getty Images)

Southampton's main club partner Sportsbet.io has donated their shirt sponsorship to the Saints Foundation for Saturday's clash against Fulham and pledged to match funds raised by supporters of up to £10,000.

Saints Foundation's logo will be displayed across the men's first team's shirts during the match at St Mary's, with the worn shirts of Southampton's players being auctioned post-game to raise vital funds for the club's charity.

Fans are also being encouraged to make donations as they enter St Mary's, with Saints Foundation asking for a suggested donation of £5 per entry and for fans to show their support by donating £20 if they can.

"We are extremely grateful to Sportsbet.io for this opportunity they have provided to us," said Southampton's chief executive officer of Saints Foundation and director of community Greg Baker.

"This act of generosity will help us raise vital funds for those most in need, particularly as our statistics show that mental illness such as depression is nearly twice as high in Southampton as the national average.

"No doubt the thousands of participants who Saints Foundation support annually will be immensely proud to see the team take to the pitch displaying the charity's logo on Saturday 13th May and we can't thank our local community enough for their continued support during these tough times."

Joe McCallum, head of gaming at Yolo Group said: "I am delighted to see our partnership with Saints Foundation come to fruition. By donating our shirt sponsorship, we hope to make a positive impact on the community and help raise vital funds for the foundation.

"We believe that sport has the power to bring people together and support important causes, and we are proud to be a part of this charity match-day. We encourage all fans to show their support for Saints Foundation by entering the prize draw and donating generously to this worthy cause."

To find out more about the work that Saints Foundation do then visit their website: southamptonfc.com/saints-foundation



https://www.hampshirelive.news/sport/football/football-news/southampton-premier-league-fulham-kit-8425756

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Report mentions Leeds in list of clubs who may consider 45-year-old PL boss this summer

A report from the Daily Mail has mentioned Leeds United as one of the clubs who could consider Marco Silva in the summer as he continues to impress with Fulham.

Leeds' focus right now is staying in the Premier League. Sam Allardyce's men currently sit 19th in the table with three games remaining.

Fans would be forgiven for fearing the worst right now. But whatever happens, it seems likely that Andrea Radrizzani will be looking for another manager in the summer.

Report mentions Leeds amongst clubs likely to consider Marco Silva this summer
Obviously, that will be an easier task if Leeds manage to stay up. And it seems, almost unbelievably, that there may be a chance that the Whites could look at Marco Silva.

According to the Daily Mail, West Ham are monitoring the Fulham boss if they decide to part company with David Moyes. And Silva has a £6 million release clause in his deal at Craven Cottage.

But the report adds that his work is not going unnoticed elsewhere. The Mail then lists all of the Premier League clubs who are likely to be looking for a new boss this summer, with Tottenham, Leicester and Leeds amongst those mentioned.

And intriguingly, the next line of the report claims that Silva is likely to be a candidate for all of those jobs – seemingly suggesting that Leeds will be in the mix.

Of course, can we see a world where Silva decides to leave Fulham for Leeds? No, not really.

Even if Leeds stay up, the club is not in the best position right now. Fulham meanwhile, are on the cusp of finishing in the top-half in their first year back.

The report notes that Silva is happy at Fulham and could sign a new contract. That surely looks a lot more likely than any serious links with Leeds emerging in the weeks to come.

Silva has rebuilt his reputation with Fulham. So he would surely be smart to stay beyond this summer unless something really special comes along.

Unfortunately, Leeds are not that something really special, right now.



https://www.leedsunited.news/news/report-mentions-leeds-in-list-of-clubs-who-may-consider-45-year-old-pl-boss-this-summer/

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Fulham begin Marco Silva contract talks amid fears over cheap release clause

Cottagers hopeful of reaching agreement on long-term extension with manager

Marco Silva is in talks with Fulham over a new contract, amid fears rival clubs could look to activate the £6million release fee in his current deal this summer.

Silva's current contract is due to expire at the end of next season and Fulham want to tie him down to a long-term deal as they look to build on their success this season.

There is hope an agreement will be reached and Silva is said to be happy at Craven Cottage.

But the job Silva has done in west London has not gone unnoticed and several Premier League clubs could be looking for a new manager at the end of the season.

David Moyes is facing an uncertain future at West Ham and Silva was linked with the Tottenham job when they sacked Antonio Conte, though he is not considered a leading contender for that role.

Speaking last week, Silva said: "My relationship with the owner is really good. He knows my opinions and what I want to do, as you cannot stand still.

"In football, if you think it is OK because we are having a very good season, that will be the first mistake. I don't like to make mistakes when I am preparing.

"We have to improve. If you think what we have is enough, it will not be.

"We are really pleased with our players. They have been doing so well. But we need to improve the competition [in the squad] because the other clubs are doing that and we have to do our best to improve. It is going to be an important few months for us."



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/fulham-silva-contract-release-clause-b1079993.html

[WhiteJC]

Positives and negatives: Fulham 5-3 Leicester City

That was far too much fun for a Monday. Fulham end a string of three straight defeats with a crazy dub at home and Cam's got all the details. Well, most of them, anyway.

I haven't even caught my breath yet. That was quite possibly the most mental game of football I've ever seen, and Fulham have thrown up a few crackers with Marco Silva at the helm. But on Bank Holiday Monday, with Shane Duffy's coronation and regal celebrations in full flow, Marco and the boys offered up a right royal romping.

There's so much to digest; I've definitely missed plenty of valid talking points, but I've attempted to recap our 14th win of the season to the best of my ability. Leicester City reside at the King Power Stadium, but they toiled like paupers on the banks of the Thames and try as they might (at least in the second half) things really aren't looking good for them.

A club that sensationally claimed a Premier League title and the FA Cup, their fall from grace has been undignified and if Dean Smith's to drag them out of the bottom three, he better act fast. Rather them than us, eh? We know what the drudgery of impending relegation feels like – but not this time, chief. A top 10 finish is in the offing; we're on 48 points and we're also two goals away from breaking our Premier League goal tally. Three games to go, let's go out on a high with more records smashed, shall we?

Positives
First half decimation
It's safe to say the lads were really, really up for it from the off. Leicester's Premier League status was and still very much is at stake and we have nothing to prove or to strive for, other than beating our all-time PL points record, of course.

The Foxes were expected to dig in, to retaliate but there was no fight or defiance, they were decimated as the rampant Whites hit a rhythm they simply couldn't replicate, and while they mounted a resurgence after the break with three goals of their own, the game was virtually done and dusted by the time Micky Adams accepted his Forever Fulham award.

To say it was an outright mauling is a tad disingenuous. Bernd Leno was called into action and he answered and reacted with urgency, he saved our first penalty since 2018, but Fulham were undoubtedly in control for the vast majority and we capitalised on our opportunities, ruthlessly. Our sequences were sexy, we expressed ourselves and it's so liberating to see our team play with enjoyment, without the fear of consequence.

Harrison Reed was the anchor; Harry Wilson, the meddler; Kenny Tete, a monster. We may have tailed off after our final strike, but what can't be ignored is the squad's camaraderie, put into motion. Each of our five goals were expertly manufactured, they were synchronised and as the visitors were yanked apart, the imprint left by our offensive ingenuity was scarring. The Foxes were dismantled and while they staged a muted revolt, they never truly recovered.

Every time we progressed past the halfway line, we were odds on to find the back of the net. As a spectacle, it was engrossing; Fulham reminded the Foxes of top-flight football's demands and I sincerely hope that we approach our remaining fixtures with the same enthusiasm because when we're cooking, we feast.

Willian works wonders
Does anyone else get a weird tingling sensation whenever Willian gets on the ball, or is it just me? Defenders recoil at the sight of the Brazilian's shoulder dips; he made a sorry example of Timothy Castagne on the left and he initiated our spree with a free-kick from an angle and distance which isn't intended for scoring purposes. Daniel Iversen's David Raya impression is uncanny, as Willian's swirling in-swinger skipped off the turf Leicester's 'keeper lagged, he could track the flight of the ball, he was unopposed but Willi's swazz was too hot to handle.

He's a masterful ball carrier; he manipulates opponents with shimmies that should come with a disclaimer and his second of the afternoon – our fifth – was naughty, proper naughty. His chicanery had my head spinning, Manor Solomon drooled, Iversen's bottom left corner had been pummelled by Willian's whip and it was so delicious, punters wanted a Flake to go with the sauce.

We are humbled by Willian's professionalism. I will never question age again because it's irrelevant – it means nothing because he is improving and with Willian at our disposal, Fulham are as dangerous as any other aspiring side in the division. He has something special; a tried and tested formula which is wreaking havoc and if he signs on for another season, he'll continue to prove his doubters horribly wrong. Willian isn't a has-been, he's living in the present but on Monday, his efforts were emulative of the player that competed for and won major titles in his pomp.

Tom's braced for action
The other brace-bagger on the day was a mainstay that's had to bide his time for regular minutes this season. In Andreas Pereira's abrupt absence, it's been Tom Cairney's responsibility to pick up the pieces and in a capacity that enabled him to orchestrate and finish off scintillating counters with aplomb, our ever-dependable skipper stole the show because his application was simply breath taking. There aren't many playmakers in the game that function like TC.

James Maddison's a pretender; he couldn't lace Tom's Nikes if he won a competition to do so and it showed. Cairney's passing was metronomic; he's an unbelievably gifted distributor but his poise cannot be taught, it's innate, and he's also a master craftsman with lethal intent.

His first, guided home by his weaker right foot – not that you'd even know that's true – was vintage Cairney sorcery. His subtle positioning offset Leicester's shaken back line, and with space to let loose, his sculpted strike rendered Iversen helpless and hopeless. His second, however, was insane. The difficulty behind Cairney's Hammy End thump cannot be understated, on the move, Tom's first touch to stunt an awkward pass was technically sublime and his instantaneous strike was draped in conviction and design only he could envision.

Everything we achieved against the Foxes was audited by TC, his esteemed stamp of approval is just as valued today as it ever has been and speaking to Sammy after the game, we wondered why he and Pereira weren't rotated more regularly because he can quite obviously still bust a move at this level. His contributions are going to be stupidly beneficial in the coming weeks, he instils a purpose in Fulham's game plan and now he's got the taste for goals again, his game-changing influence is bound to be abundant.

Keep it up, Vini
I haven't been Carlos Vinicius's greatest advocate, that is well documented, however in recent weeks following his insipid display at Villa Park, the stand-in striker has knuckled down, refocused and against Caglar Soyuncu and Wout Faes, the Brazilian striker was large and in charge. It's evident that Marco and his coaching staff has invested a great deal of attention on Vinicius's training programme, his transformation's pronounced, he no longer loiters in the final third, he's constantly on the prowl and when he had to stand his ground, he made his presence known.

He doesn't occupy defences like Aleksandar Mitrovic does, but there were similarities on Monday, that's for certain. He supported his midfield teammates by dropping into deeper areas, this distracted Leicester's defenders and subsequently, huge swathes emerged behind the visitors' back line and that was massively beneficial to Fulham's incisive attacks.

Mitro involves himself with bravery, he doesn't shy from confrontation and neither did Vini. He was fired up, Leicester couldn't contain him and his goal was diverted with an opportunist's nerve. The through ball from Harry Wilson was exquisite, but Carlos's movement made it happen. He didn't wait for possession to drift his way, he engineered the opening himself and as he latched onto Wilson's thread through, with Iversen in his periphery, his fourth goal of the campaign epitomised his clinical nature.

He's proficient when he doesn't have an age to pick his spot, sharp shooting is a USP if his and while his strike was slightly scuffed, it was only ending up in one place and that's the back of the net at Putney End, his favourite goal frame of all. Before the first half came to a halt, he also set-up TC, so he can be credited with goal and an assist. It's never been a question of Vini's commitment, he wants to make an impact, it's his underlying capability as a leading hitman that's been scrutinised with good reason but at this current period of the season, he's ticking all the right boxes. If he appreciates his pros, as well as his cons, he'll definitely redefine his reputation so whatever you're doing in the training field, Carlos, keep it up!

Negatives
Still conceded three
I'm not going to sit here and pretend that conceding three second half goals, despite the hefty gap, isn't annoying. Some of our own defending after the interval was questionable, we may have pulled out an unassailable lead but even against teams such as Leicester – which really aren't in any credible shape or fettle – we can't take our eyes off the prize because it may not have appeared so, but we're still a member of the planet's most testing division and games can change there course and direction without warning.

At 5-1, the score line wasn't flattering or unjust; we fully deserved to be ahead by multiple goals but small lapses in concentration were exploited by the Foxes. Surely, even though it's three points in the bag, the boys at the back can't be entirely thrilled with their collective input because a clean sheet, or at least the bare minimum, would've been the perfect compliment to our dauntless attacking display.

Leicester's attack is still capable of causing problems, league tables can often be deceiving, and I get that they were pretty terrible structurally, however they still won two clear penalties, they still forced Leno into some incredible saves and they still chipped away at our four-goal buffer and who can honestly say that they wouldn't have liked a comprehensive whitewashing? I know Marco would've, and I'm sure that in the aftermath of an exhilarating victory, he'll challenge the lads to up their standards in the coming days at Motspur Park.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2023-05-10-positives-and-negatives-fulham-5-3-leicester-city/

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Norwich City, Watford decline but Fulham, Rotherham come of age in season of broken yo-yos

It's the end of an era as four renowned yo-yo clubs – Fulham, Norwich City, Watford and Rotherham United – have all binned their scripts this season.

For Fulham and Rotherham, this is a timely and deserved twist that is a reward for learning from past mistakes. Yet for Norwich and Watford – who have been made to settle for mid-table mediocrity in the Championship – it is a warranted punishment for failing to progress past their recurring off-field misdemeanours.

Fulham
I admittedly look pretty foolish for going for Fulham as one of my three pre-season picks for relegation as Marco Silva's side have been a joy in the Premier League.

In their previous two seasons in the top flight, the Cottagers went down with a whimper, stumbling to 26 points in 2018/19 and then just 28 in 2020/21.

In 18/19, Fulham haphazardly spent £100m on new signings (including Jean Michael Seri, Frank Anguissa and Andre Schurrle) and went through three managers (Slavisa Jokanovic, Claudio Ranieri and Scott Parker). A recipe for disaster that played out as expected.

Parker – who has since been outed as quite a sh*t manager – was kept on during the 20/21 behind-closed-doors season and managed just five wins in what was a sorry campaign for the club.

His successor – Silva – has taken his second (third?) chance in the Premier League after he failed to amend the downward momentum at Hull and Everton.

Anyone doubting his capabilities have been silenced this season and he has been helped by Fulham's inspired recruitment. Andreas Pereira, Bernd Leno and Willian have resurrected their careers at Craven Cottage, while Joao Palhinha has been their player of the season.

Silva's work for the top-half outfit places him among the manager of the season contenders and the whole club needs commending for finding a footing in the Premier League after a ten-year wait.

Norwich City
There are many players deemed too good for the Championship but not good enough for the Premier League. Ex-Norwich striker Cameron Jerome is one such example and the Canaries have been the club version of that trope for four years until this campaign.

After earning 94-plus points in two title-winning seasons in the second tier, Norwich followed that with two 20th-placed finishes in the Premier League that resulted in them failing to surpass 22 points.

Long-term manager Daniel Farke was present during the majority of this period and Dean Smith was tasked with pulling off an almighty salvage job last season, but the ex-Aston Villa was unable to upturn their fortunes.

The Canaries took the pretty puzzling decision to let Smith stick around for their return to the Championship and they fared just about as poorly as West Brom under Steve Bruce, who by now is well past his sell-by date as a head coach.

Smith's replacement – David Wagner – initially had Norwich on track for the play-offs but a miserable end to the season saw the eventual 13th-place finishers win just one of their last 11 league games.

Norwich were due a season of mediocrity after the disastrous nature of two of their last four seasons and with legendary goalscorer Teemu Pukki leaving in the summer, it is time for a rebuild at Carrow Road. Given how the club ended this season, Wagner is unlikely to be the manager who sees out this process.

Watford
Since Silva's brief but successful reign as Watford boss during the 2017/18 campaign, only two of their next ten permanent managers have surpassed 30 games in charge.

This is a possible explanation for their downfall in recent months, but the Pozzo family's sacking formula has also brought them a lot of success. They outdid themselves in 2013/14 as they earned promotion to the Premier League in the same season they went through four managers.

Such achievements are bound to give owners a false sense of security but recent evidence suggests the Pozzo family's approach is not as foolproof as they would like to think.

The fruitless trios of Munoz-Ranieri-Hodgson and Edwards-Bilic-Wilder have overseen two torrid campaigns that led to Watford crashing back down to earth with quite the bump.

Watford have been impacted by injuries more than most this season but that is not an excuse for their squad not being of the required standard to battle for promotion.

While Rob Edwards was not given the time to prove himself at Watford, the subsequent woes of Slaven Bilic and Chris Wilder owed more to the fundamental failings of the club rather than the managers themselves.

Ex-West Brom and Barnsley boss Valerien Ismael is apparently going to be next through the door. His task is an unenviable one and with star player Joao Pedro already gone (before Ismaila Sarr likely follows him), he will need the backing of a board that falls short far too often in that regard.

Rotherham United
On the final day of the season at Wigan, the Millers' goalless draw nudged them onto 50 points and it sealed a 19th-place finish, thus securing them Championship survival for the first time since Neil Warnock saved them in 2015/16.

Rotherham – as they always are – were favourites to go down in a league where they are among the lowest spenders.

A strong start to the campaign could have been undone when long-term boss Paul Warne jumped ship to join Derby County. A club built around their previous manager's image was now searching for a fresh voice and they settled on Matt Taylor, who was coming off promotion with Exeter City.

Taylor has not had it all his own way. Before the January transfer window opened, the Millers were sleepwalking into a relegation scrap with a squad lacking players of Championship quality.

In previous seasons, Rotherham did not act when their squad needed new faces in January and that resulted in their demise. But under an assertive head coach in Taylor, the club brought in eight new players in the winter window. While each signing made a positive impact in some way, Jordan Hugill, Tariqe Fosu and Conor Coventry were the standouts.

The Millers have previously faded away during the run-in as their small squad was exposed by the rigours of the Championship. But these additions – plus the immense trio of Viktor Johansson, Cameron Humphreys and Ollie Rathbone – enabled Rotherham to pick up the points they needed to overcome their personal hoodoo and stay in the Championship.

While a busy summer of recruitment is necessary, the South Yorkshire outfit can head into Taylor's first full campaign in charge brimming with optimism, which is helped by having the enviable spine of Johansson, Humphreys, Rathbone and Hugill to build next season's side around. Securing their survival will be the aim again, but the Millers have the necessary ingredients to kick on and begin to look towards mid-table.



https://www.football365.com/news/norwich-city-watford-decline-fulham-rotherham-come-of-age-season-broken-yo-yos

[WhiteJC]

Report: West Ham now want £6m manager amid Tottenham rumours

West Ham United are now very interested in Fulham boss Marco Silva and could pay his £6million release clause.

That is according to the Daily Mail, who claim that Silva is on the list of candidates for the West Ham job.

David Moyes has been linked with a summer exit although nothing has been confirmed about his future just yet.

The Sun reported last week that Lille's Paulo Fonseca – another Portuguese boss – is on West Ham's radar and is interested in the job.

West Ham could look a little closer to home though with Silva now understood to be a prime candidate.

That would involve Silva leaving Fulham for a move across London, which may not go down too well.

The report claims that Silva actually has a £6million release clause in his contract, meaning West Ham could prise him away from Fulham for a set fee.

Tottenham could challenge West Ham United for Marco Silva
Silva has really rebuilt his reputation with Fulham.

The 45-year-old was dented by his struggles at Everton but has shown his ability as a manager at Craven Cottage.

Fulham are closing in on a top-half finish and West Ham aren't exactly alone in fancying Silva.

The Sun claimed in March that Silva had become a top target for Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy.

Spurs are still looking for a new permanent manager and Silva could be their man.

West Ham would probably rather not have to battle Spurs for a new manager, but that could be their reality with a move for Silva.

There is of course still a chance that Silva stays with Fulham.

Silva will be appreciative of the chance Fulham gave him after his Everton sacking, and he has a good thing going in West London.

West Ham will though hope to make Silva an offer he can't refuse – and possibly beat Spurs in the process.



https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2023/05/10/report-west-ham-now-want-6m-manager-amid-tottenham-rumours/

[WhiteJC]

Briggs returns to Fulham as player care mentor
There's a terrific interview with Matthew Briggs on FFCTV this afternoon as the former Fulham left back discusses his new role within the club's category one academy as a player care mentor.

The Wandsworth-born defender held the record as both Fulham and the Premier League's youngest ever player for twelve years, after coming off the bench at Middlesbrough in the final game of the 2006/07 season, until teenage winger Harvey Elliott's debut in April 2019. Briggs made a total of thirty appearances at Craven Cottage before being released – and had spoken in recent years about the lack of pastoral support that accompanied his meteoric rise from academy prospect to top flight footballer.

Now 32, Briggs was appointed to his new role with the Whites last month as Fulham continue to upscale their off-field support to the next generation of academy graduates. He was overwhelmed with the welcome he received from the fanbase after announcing a return to his boyhood club on social media and there can be few more qualified mentors for young footballers than someone who has been through the ups and downs of professional football from a young age.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2023/05/briggs-returns-to-fulham-as-player-care-mentor/

[WhiteJC]

David Moyes was raving about £6m Fulham player after performance vs Man City

Felix White has shared that West Ham United manager David Moyes was very impressed with Harrison Reed's performance against Manchester City for Fulham.

White was speaking on The Fulham Fix about his experience in the Fulham press box that afternoon.

Fulham welcomed the current Premier League champions to Craven Cottage looking to have their say on this season's title race.

Manchester City took the lead within the first five minutes thanks to an Erling Haaland penalty.

The visitors were on top for much of the first half before being hit by a devastating counter-attack.

A perfectly weighted Joao Palhinha long ball was brought down by Harry Wilson before Carlos Vinicius emphatically finished.

The game was eventually decided by a Julian Alvarez strike that even Bernd Leno couldn't keep out.

White relayed that David Moyes was very impressed with Harrison Reed's performance for Fulham that day.

The West Ham boss was looking to pick up some tips for when his side faced Pep Guardiola's men.

Sadly, the Hammers fell to a 3-0 defeat despite a spirited display.

Moyes impressed with Fulham star Reed
Speaking on The Fulham Fix after the Manchester City game, White said: "Can I tell you my insight from the [Manchester] City game?

"I was sat in the Johnny Haynes press [area], the cool thing about that is that occasionally you get the football glitterati come in and sit around you.

"David Moyes was sat behind me because West Ham had City the following week.

"He was with who must have been his West Ham number two, and they were discussing the game with each other.

"He was so full of praise for Fulham, talking about how they were constricting City for space, how the attacking players were reading the game so well and not letting City have anything.

"He was talking about Harrison Reed a lot, and how good Harrison Reed was."

Palhinha has grabbed the headlines, but Reed deserves huge credit
The £6m midfielder has created an astonishing partnership with Joao Palhinha this season.

Palhinha has been given a huge amount of credit from the wider footballing world.

So much so, that Arsenal and Liverpool have been linked with the 27-year-old this summer.

However, Reed deserves so much credit for how well he's played for Fulham this season, and David Moyes was happy to give it to him.

Reed has been allowed more attacking freedom with Palhinha in the side.

He scored his first goal for the club after more than 100 appearances against Nottingham Forest earlier in the season.

His strikes against Aston Villa and Everton both earned Fulham wins.

Reed has been one of the unsung heroes of an incredible return to the Premier League for Marco Silva's side. He deserves every plaudit he's given.



https://tbrfootball.com/david-moyes-was-raving-about-6m-fulham-player-after-performance-vs-man-city/

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Southampton injury blow confirmed as defender posts social media update before Fulham clash

Southampton defender Armel Bella-Kotchap has confirmed that his season is now over after he went off with an injury during the 4-3 defeat against Nottingham Forest on Monday

Southampton defender Armel Bella-Kotchap has said his season is now over after sustaining an injury against Nottingham Forest.

The German defender was substituted after just 38 minutes of Saints' 4-3 defeat against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Monday, with the 21-year-old forced off with a suspected hamstring injury.

It was the fourth time this season that Bella-Kotchap has been forced off in the first half of a game, with the defender missing several matches through injury in his first campaign in English football, following a move from VfL Bochum last summer.

Southampton boss Ruben Selles said after the game at the City Ground that Saints would need to check the extent of the hamstring problem, with just three games remaining in the Premier League this term.

And now, Bella-Kotchap has confirmed that he will not play again this season for Saints, with the defender posting an update with a message for supporters via social media.

Writing on Instagram, he said: "Unfortunately the season is over for me. Thank you for your support Saints family."

Bella-Kotchap has made 27 appearances for Southampton since his transfer last summer, with the defender earning praise for his performances in the early stages of the season, which led to him being called up to the Germany senior squad for the first time.

He was part of Hansi Flick's squad for the World Cup in Qatar in November, but did not make an appearance for Germany at the tournament.



https://www.hampshirelive.news/sport/football/football-news/southampton-injury-blow-update-fulham-8429729

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Club expecting to sell midfielder – Fulham and West Ham to have second chance following January attempt

Prior to the January transfer window, the Brazilian media many times claimed Fulham and West Ham United were both interested in São Paulo midfielder Pablo Maia.

The Brazilian club had been doing their best to keep the player at the time, and it was even reported they believed he'd be worth much more in the summer.

Today, journalist André Hernan shares some news about Maia, and Fulham and West Ham should now have a new chance to sign the 21-year-old.

The reporter claims that despite the new contract he's signed, São Paulo actually expect to sell him in the next transfer window.

The club are said to be in need of money and see Maia as their main possibility of a big sale.

Hernan mentions that West Ham tried to sign the midfielder in January on a loan deal, and Fulham's bid wasn't good enough.

There's no mention whether these clubs would be back for him. Still, it's claimed that he's very well evaluated by Premier League clubs, so that remains being the most likely destination for him.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/club-expecting-sell-midfielder-fulham-west-ham-second-chance-following-january-attempt/

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Crystal Palace: Eagles likely to target Marco Silva
The Fulham boss is of interest to a whole host of Premier League clubs.

Crystal Palace are likely to have Fulham boss Marco Silva on their wanted list to take over as manager at the end of the season, according to a recent report from The Daily Mail.

What's the latest Crystal Palace manager news?
According to journalist James Olley, Roy Hodgson is unlikely to have any aspirations of staying on as manager beyond the end of the season, and the Palace hierarchy have started to run the rule over potential replacements for the 75-year-old.

HLTCO host Dan Cook has mooted the idea of Arne Slot taking the reins at Selhurst Park, and it has been reported sporting director Dougie Freeman has already made contact with the Feyenoord boss.

Austrian coach Adi Hutter is reportedly desperate to take over at a Premier League club, and there are still indications that the Eagles could make a move for the former Borusssia Monchengladbach boss.

However, a new option is now emerging from closer to home, as The Daily Mail report Silva is likely to be a candidate for the Palace job at the end of the season, although there are a number of teams set to do battle for the Fulham boss.

The likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Leeds United and West Ham United are also named as potential suitors for the 45-year-old, but he is currently said to be happy in west London and is open to signing an extension.

If that situation changes, Palace know that the terms of the Portuguese coach's existing deal mean he can be released from his contract for a fee of £6m.

Should Crystal Palace appoint Marco Silva?
It would perhaps be an unusual move if the Fulham boss were to move to Selhurst Park, given that his current side have had a better season, currently eight points better off in the Premier League table.

However, if the Eagles were able to tempt the Lisbon-born manager into a move across the capital, he could be a very shrewd appointment, given the fantastic job he has done with the Cottagers since winning the Championship last season.

Fulham are well on track to finish in the top half of the Premier League, which is a fantastic achievement for a newly-promoted side, and they came close to reaching the FA cup semi-finals, before a late fightback from Manchester United.

Hailed as a "genius" by former player Tom Taylor, while also being praised by Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, Silva would be a very exciting appointment for the Eagles.



https://www.footballfancast.com/crystal-palace-premier-league-marco-silva-manager-news-rumours/

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Surprise name to be Premier League manager of the season ahead of Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola

Arsenal's growth during the season has been one of the biggest surprises but Fulham's performances have been more impressive

The reality that Fulham's safety felt assured pretty early into the Premier League campaign should not go unnoticed, especially considering how favoured they were to face a third successive relegation in August after promotion from the Championship.

Marco Silva was also the bookies' favourite to be sacked first and Aleksandar Mitrovic was expected to struggle to match his imperious goalscoring form in the second tier. Few can be blamed for having these pre-season assertions, the recent evidence of Fulham's Premier League performances were drastically poor, going down in 2021 with only 28 points, losing eight of their first 11 games.

The previous top-flight season was marginally worse in points in 2018/19, getting two fewer. But they conceded 81, losing 26 games out of 38, losing 11 out of 12 games between January and April.

Thrown into the same mix as Norwich and West Brom, the cliched yo-yo clubs who drift in limbo between the Championship and Premier League, gaining euphoria with sometimes record-breaking promotions, mirrored by the soul-crushing disappointment of relegation. Marco Silva's ability, along with his players and staff, to overcome that has been one of the great surprises of this season.

Silva needed this season to go well in order to rebuild his reputation in England. A sacking in November of 2019 from Everton ended a troubled reign after a divisive exit from Watford where he gained praise. Silva had previously faced relegation with Hull in 2017, he could not afford a repeat with Fulham, a club that had looked incapable of competing in the league in recent years.

A mixture of smart recruitment, good profiling of players and a solid defensive base have made this season a relative breeze. Whilst credentials for the manager of the season may look towards Mikel Artera across London at the Emirates Stadium, with the dream of a title still alive and kicking, the job of Silva still comes above it. Fulham have not just survived, they have thrived, performing like a club who have been competing at this level for several years.

Although the turn of March has since seen a dip in performances and results, the bulk of Silva's important work was done before the World Cup break in November and just after, where a run of four straight wins over Crystal Palace, Southampton, Leicester and Chelsea got them over the 30-point mark with 16 games left to spare. Monday's tennis-like score of a 5-3 win over relegation-threatened Leicester put them in tenth place, six clear of Chelsea.

Recruitment is where Fulham have triumphed this season. Bernd Leno, Issa Diop, João Palhinha, Willian and Carlos Vinicius all started on Monday, with three of the five goals coming from Willian and Vinicius.

Palhinha has provided a calming presence in midfield, a technically gifted metronome allowing Fulham to not fully divert from the attacking style that won them the Championship last year. A type of midfielder many of the clubs within the league would have wanted to uncover.

Willian has proven to be a genius move, given many writing him off after a tough year at Arsenal, but the Brazilian has proven what a quality player he has been, a talent those at Stamford Bridge might wish they still had this season. An experienced presence that has probably benefited the younger talents like Harry Wilson looking to grow. This is a player who has won two league titles, been a key figure under some of the sport's best coaches and has offered flashes of brilliance to sparkle magic when needed.

Most importantly, Mitrovic's 11 goals might not rival Erling Haaland but have been an improvement on his previous struggles to translate consistent scoring in the Championship to Premier League. The great shame of Mitrovic's season is that his shameful behaviour at Old Trafford has hurt what should have been an overwhelmingly positive campaign for the Serbian.

Now of course, we are focusing on players rather than the managers themselves. That is the reality of football. For all we elevate the coaches to genius status, they do not have all the answers and require the players to enact their ideas on the pitch. The same applies to Arteta – who benefits from great talents like Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard performing at their peak this season.

But the leadership and guidance are something that can be attributed to Fulham with Silva. The unspectacular nature of their year might raise eyebrows, but that is what is impressive and surprising about the narrative around Craven Cottage, that the fear of relegation has never truly materialised. They have outperformed clubs of bigger size and grander wealth, whilst also forming a solid platform to build on from next season.

Silva deserves to be named manager of the season for making this look so simple.



https://www.football.london/fulham-fc/surprise-name-premier-league-manager-26875203

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Arsenal winger Reiss Nelson is 'attracting interest from the likes of AC Milan, Fulham and West Ham', with the 23-year-old out of contract this summer and yet to agree a new deal at the Emirates

    Reiss Nelson has played just eight times in the Premier League this season
    The Arsenal winger scored a dramatic 97th minute winner against Bournemouth
    Nelson 'REJECTS a new contract offer from Arsenal' amid interest in his services

A number of European clubs are interested in 'bringing in Arsenal's Reiss Nelson' if he fails to agree a new deal with the club.

The 23-year-old winger has played a bit-part role this season and made just eight Premier League appearances, all of which have come off the bench.

He did provide fans with a season highlight, though, with a 97th minute winner against Bournemouth in March.

Nelson's current contract will be up this summer, and he is not believed to have agreed a new deal.

It seems the winger will not be without suitors if he does leave north London, with the Evening Standard reporting interest from the likes of AC Milan, Fulham, West Ham and Brighton.

They also report that Nelson, who came through the Gunners academy and has been an Arsenal player since he was eight years old, wants to stay at the club despite his lack of play time.

He said in November that he was 'very comfortable at the club' and keen to extend hos contract.

MIkel Arteta's side are expected to invest heavily in the upcoming transfer window as they prepare for a return to Champions League football.

West Ham midfielder Declan Rice is believed to be a top target, though they will likely face competition from the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool, while Bayer Leverkusen forward Moussa Diaby is also on their radar.

Folarin Balogun, who has impressed at Reims this season while on loan from Arsenal, is expected to be sold amid interest from AC Milan.

Scottish fullback Kieran Tierney could also be among those to leave this summer, having fallen behind Oleksandr Zinchenko in Arteta's plans.

Despite a recent wobble that saw Arsenal lose their grip on the title race after three points from four games, they are now just one point behind leaders Man City after an impressive win at Newcastle.

City do have a game in hand, but will face an improving Everton side next who beat Brighton 5-1 in their last game.

The Gunners return to action on Sunday, when they face the Seagulls at the Emirates.



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-12069299/Arsenal-winger-Reiss-Nelson-attracting-likes-AC-Milan-Fulham-West-Ham.html

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Fulham still in race for potential free agent – Competition started making moves

Fulham are today back to being mentioned in the race for Benfica left-back Alejandro Grimaldo.

The report this time comes from journalist Bruno Andrade, who has an update on the battle for the potential free agent.

It's now claimed that Real Sociedad 'strongly joined' the dispute for the player, having already made contact for the signing.

It's then highlighted there are English clubs interested in him, and Fulham are among them.

Grimaldo's contract with Benfica expires at the end of the season, and there are no signs of a deal so far. On Wednesday morning, newspaper Record highlighted him talking about his potential exit.

"It's a complicated decision, it's not easy, because Benfica is the club of my life," said Grimaldo.

"The good and the bad times were spent here. We have to think about the important thing, which is winning the championship. Saying if I stay or not, if I make a decision, is not as important as Benfica winning the championship."

Fulham have been linked to the player since March, and it was even claimed that Marco Silva has already given the club the 'green light' for Grimaldo's arrival.

The Portuguese media has been full of stories about the future of the Benfica star, with reports claiming the likes of Leeds United and Nottingham Forest are interested in him as well.

All this battle makes it look like the player won't be making a decision so soon.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/fulham-still-race-potential-free-agent-competition-started-making-moves/

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'No-one gave him a chance': Danny Murphy says he really doubted £13m Newcastle man would become a PL player

Danny Murphy has admitted that he never thought Dan Burn was going to be a Premier League defender when the pair were together at Fulham, as he lauded the season the Newcastle United man has had.

Murphy was speaking on Rio Ferdinand's YouTube channel, discussing the Premier League team of the season as the end of the campaign looms.

It has been a remarkable season for Newcastle. Eddie Howe's men are still on pole position to secure a top-four place and a spot in the Champions League next year.

Murphy lauds Dan Burn
They have had outstanding performances all over the pitch. And one of the most impressive and most consistent players in the side has been Dan Burn.

The 31-year-old has played the majority of the season at left-back. And he has done a superb job, so much so that there was a debate about whether he should be ahead of Oleksandr Zinchenko in the team of the year.

Danny Murphy felt that Zinchenko should get the nod. However, he was full of praise for what Burn has achieved given the player he saw alongside him at Fulham just over a decade ago.

"I think Dan Burn deserves great credit because no-one gave him a chance," he told Rio Ferdinand's YouTube channel.

"When he came to Fulham, I never thought he would be a Premier League defender. He's really come on leaps and bounds. And even at full-back, I thought he'd be a centre-half. He's been part of the back four I think has been the best defence in the Premier League, or it was a couple of weeks ago. So he deserves great credit for that."

Certainly, the deal to bring Burn to St James' Park highlights how clever the owners have been in the market.

Most of us expected Newcastle to splash the cash and bring in superstar names. But they instead built a squad the fans adore. And Burn is one of those who has a brilliant relationship with the supporters.

Newcastle spent just £13 million to sign him from Brighton. And when you consider how good he has been since making the move, that has to go down as one of the biggest bargains the club has produced in recent years.



https://tbrfootball.com/no-one-gave-him-a-chance-danny-murphy-says-he-really-doubted-13m-newcastle-man-would-become-a-pl-player/