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Monday Fulham Stuff - 29/05/23...

Started by WhiteJC, May 29, 2023, 05:39:20 AM

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WhiteJC

Results
Sunday
Arsenal   
5-0
   Wolves
Villa   
2-1
   Brighton
Brentford   
1-0
   Man City
Chelsea   
1-1
   Newcastle
Palace   
1-1
   Forest
Everton   
1-0
   Bournemouth
Leeds   
1-4
   Spurs
Leicester   
2-1
   West Ham
Man Utd   
2-1
   Fulham
Southampton   
4-4
   Liverpool

WhiteJC

Manchester United 2-1 Fulham


Manchester United finished the Premier League season with four consecutive wins

Manchester United wrapped up third place in the Premier League as they came from behind to beat Fulham at Old Trafford.

The visitors took the lead early in the first half when Kenny Tete headed in Willian's corner at the near post, and they could have gone 2-0 up but Aleksandar Mitrovic saw his penalty saved by David de Gea.

Alejandro Garnacho curled a shot against the crossbar as Manchester United responded well and were eventually rewarded with the equaliser when Jadon Sancho poked in after Fred had burst into the area.

Bruno Fernandes then put the hosts ahead early in the second half when he was sent clear by Fred and clipped a neat finish beyond Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno.

Marcus Rashford saw a shot saved by Leno as Manchester United looked to add a third, while De Gea did well to push away a decent Mitrovic strike late on to secure the victory.

It means the hosts finished third on 75 points while Fulham end the season in 10th place with 52 points.

United taking momentum into FA Cup final
United had already made sure of Champions League football next season by beating Chelsea 4-1 on Thursday to cement a top-four finish.

It meant they went into their final home game of the season without the pressure to get a result, but boss Erik ten Hag was nevertheless determined that his side signed off on a high to ensure they go into next weekend's FA Cup final with Manchester City in the best possible shape.

The game showed no signs of being an end-of-season dead rubber with both sides attacking with determination and desire, but it was Fulham who got the breakthrough from a set-piece.

United did need a great save from De Gea to prevent Fulham from doubling their lead but from then on the hosts were largely in control - bar one or two moments late on - as they fought back for a 15th home win of the season.

Only Manchester City have won more games on home soil, and there was a good atmosphere around Old Trafford, even when the home side fell behind. That sense of unity could serve them well as they look to complete a domestic double by adding the FA Cup to their League Cup triumph.



https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65661809

WhiteJC

Post-Man Utd Press Conference

Marco Silva recognised that David De Gea's penalty save changed the tide in Fulham's meeting with Manchester United.

Leading through Kenny Tete's header, we had the chance to double our advantage, but the momentum swung in the Reds' favour when De Gea denied Aleksandar Mitrović from 12 yards.

"We had very good moments during the game," Silva said. "Unfortunately for us, we were not really consistent during all the match, but we started with our plan and the way we started to control all the game.

"Then we were leading the score, I think it was well deserved from ourselves because we showed the composure, the quality to play, to control well most of the moments from the build-up of Man United and all those situations.

"Of course, we had the chance to score for 2-0 and give us even more confidence and make it much more difficult for them. We missed, De Gea saved in that moment, and of course it was a boost for them, you could feel it straightaway.

"These are the moments where we have to show more maturity, to show more consistency, because after that is a moment where we have to get back again to our standards, to stick with the plan, and in some moments we didn't.

"They started to gain some second balls, they started to win a lot of duels. The reaction, as we expected, was normal, but in some moments we should have done much, much better. Because if we keep doing the same things that we did before the penalty, I'm 100 per cent sure we would keep creating problems to Man United.

"They equalised with a lucky ball, I have to say, a deflection. They had one or two good chances before that.

"Second half, we tried to adjust some things because they were creating problems for us between the lines. We tried to be a little bit more compact, but we didn't start well. After the 2-1, we reacted, we had some chances, they had some chances to score the third, too.

"In my opinion, we clearly didn't deserve the result, but it's the same old story with Man United this season.

"The three games were different, of course, in my opinion the other two were much better than this afternoon, even if this afternoon we had very good moments, but in the other two we were much the better team.

"But there are some moments that decide games, unfortunately this afternoon was more or less the same story, because we didn't deserve to lose the game."

Regardless of the defeat, Silva knows that the 2022/23 campaign has been a terrific one for Fulham.

"It's been brilliant," he admitted. "No doubt about it, the season has been fantastic for this football club, when everyone expected us to be the first ones to go down.

"We heard a lot of things in the beginning of the season that there was no chance for Fulham, they are the favourites to go down.

"The reality is that we did really well, we finished top half of the table, in some months of the season we even expected to fight for something more, but probably for the first season in the Premier League it was too difficult.

"We have to keep taking the right steps in the right time but, of course, it is a brilliant season. And more important than the position we finished in the table, was the way we did it.

"This is much more important for me, because we kept our identity, kept our philosophy, played the same type of football. That, for me, is important to see my team play, and this is much more important than just to finish 10th or ninth or 11th. We did it in our style, in our way, and it made me proud."

Asked what needs to be done to build on this progress next season, Silva answered: "First is to keep the standards. The platform is here, it's clear that the platform is here, but we cannot stand still.

"If this level that we are playing, if someone thinks that it's okay, now that we are 10th, that will be the first mistake, for the Club to go in a direction that I will not allow it to go. This is the main thing.

"The standards are there, the platform is here, but we have to improve, clearly. Not just on the pitch, off the pitch as well.

"There are many things still to improve, this is a normal thing in football, no one can stand still. We have to always show the commitment and the ambition to do more."



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2023/may/28/post-man-utd-press-conference/


WhiteJC

Report: Shane Duffy Set For Transfer Move That Could Reignite His Career

Shane Duffy has gone through a very difficult period in his career over the last couple of years.

Once it became clear that he would no longer be first choice at Brighton, he made the move to Celtic. However, his time in Glasgow was a difficult one and he eventually found himself out of the team. While he would then return for another campaign at the Amex, his move to Fulham this season has not gone to plan.

The Derry man has not started a single league game during his spell at Craven Cottage, playing a total of 17 minutes across five substitute appearances. His move to the club was made permanent back in January in order to allow Fulham to bring in another loan signing, although his contract will expire next month.

Duffy will be available on a free transfer and will want to choose his next club carefully. After two failed moves and falling out of the Irish squad, the 31-year old will not get many more opportunities to get his career back on track.

Shane Duffy reportedly set to sign deal with new club
Pink Un are reporting that Shane Duffy is close to signing for Norwich City on a free transfer. It is said that the two parties are close to agreeing terms on a contract, which the player can sign after Fulham complete their Premier League campaign this afternoon.

This would be an interesting move for the defender. Norwich City finished in 13th place in the Championship this season, although they will likely be hoping to make a promotion push in the upcoming campaign.

Should he join, he would link up with Ireland teammate Andrew Omobamidele in the defence, with the experienced duo of Ben Gibson and Grant Hanley also featuring for the club this season. Hanley recently suffered an achilles injury that is likely to keep him out of action until 2024.

Consistent playing time should he Duffy's at this point, meaning you would imagine he has been given some type of assurance over the the game time he would receive at Norwich.

Hopefully this will be the move that reignites his career.



https://www.balls.ie/football/shane-duffy-close-to-signing-for-new-club-556527

WhiteJC

Tottenham Hotspur Eye Fulham's Bright Talent

Spurs Aiming for Manor Solomon in Transfer Tussle

According to The Athletic's Jack Pitt-Brooke and Peter Rutzler, Tottenham Hotspur has Manor Solomon firmly in their sights. The Israeli winger is in a unique position to walk away from Shakhtar Donetsk this summer without a transfer fee, thanks to a recent FIFA ruling.

A Second Lease of Life in London?
After a year-long loan stint at Fulham, Solomon's career trajectory looks set to shift once more. Should he choose to exit Craven Cottage, a fresh start at Tottenham Hotspur could be the next chapter in his football story. However, a definitive decision is yet to be made and other offers are also on the table.

FIFA's Unprecedented Ruling
Solomon's departure from Shakhtar is all thanks to FIFA's Monday ruling, which confirmed all foreign players based in Ukraine or Russia could suspend their contracts for another year. Initially intended to protect players and coaches following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, this decision allows Solomon to walk away from Shakhtar at the end of the year, without incurring a transfer fee.

The temporary ruling came into effect in March 2022 and was subsequently extended twice. The Ukrainian club announced this ruling's implications could result in a loss of €80million in potential transfer fees, threatening the club's very existence.

Europe's Alert: Solomon in Demand
Solomon's change in contract status has piqued the interest of several European clubs. However, Tottenham Hotspur are currently at the forefront, with hopes of solidifying a permanent deal for the player. Spurs' management is hard at work, hoping that the 23-year-old winger could invigorate the squad after a tough season.

A Missed Opportunity for Fulham?
Fulham nearly had Solomon on a permanent deal last summer, with a €7.5million fee nearly agreed with Shakhtar. However, when FIFA extended its ruling, the move fell through, resulting in a one-year free loan deal instead. This decision led to Shakhtar filing for damages at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Though unsuccessful, Shakhtar's CEO confirmed that the club will persist with their legal battle.

Solomon: From Injury to Impact
Despite a challenging start in the Premier League, Solomon has been a standout at Fulham. An unfortunate knee injury following his debut against Liverpool saw him sidelined, only to return post-World Cup with an impressive scoring streak. His scoring spree of five consecutive matches placed him as the first Israeli to score in as many consecutive Premier League games since Ronnie Rosenthal for Liverpool in 1992.

In March, Fulham's boss Marco Silva expressed the club's intention to retain Solomon amidst the potential competition. Tottenham Hotspur's upcoming match against Leeds and Fulham's encounter with Manchester United are set to conclude their respective campaigns for 2022-23. Time will tell whether Solomon will choose the Lilywhites or remain at the Cottage.



https://eplindex.com/88767/tottenham-hotspur-eyes-fulhams-bright-talent.html

WhiteJC

Rico in intensive care after horse riding accident
Former Fulham goalkeeper Sergio Rico is in intensive care in Seville after suffering serious head injuries following a horse riding accident, his current club Paris Saint Germain have confirmed.

Rico fell off the horse he was riding after a collision with a runaway horse in the the El Rocio region of Huelva, according to reports in his native Spain. The 29 year-old Spanish international made 32 appearances for Fulham in their 2018/2019 Premier League campaign during a loan spell from Sevilla but couldn't keep the Whites in the top flight. He joined PSG permanently in 2020 after a successful loan stint.

The thoughts of everyone at hammyend are with Sergio, his family and friends after this shocking development.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2023/05/rico-in-intensive-care-after-horse-riding-accident/


WhiteJC

Silverware no definition of successful career for Willian
Willian believes success in football does not necessarily equate to a cabinet full of silverware, highlighting Harry Kane as an example.

The Fulham attacker was a two-time Premier League winner during his time with Chelsea, and collected medals in the FA Cup, EFL Cup and Europa League.

In addition, the 34-year-old won the 2019 Copa America with Brazil and was a member of his nation's squad when they came fourth at home in the 2014 World Cup.

But when asked what defines success in football, he suggested that trophies do not solely define the legacy of a player's career.

"I think it's a mix of several factors," he told Stats Perform. "It is to win titles, [it] is to be playing at a high level.

"Sometimes there are players who don't win titles, but play at a high level and are always playing well, always scoring goals. Harry Kane, for example, for me, is a great player

"[He] is always at a high level at Tottenham, playing very well and scoring goals, but I don't think he has any career titles as a professional. Can you say that he was not successful in football?

"It depends. It is a mixture of things. It depends a lot on what it means to be successful in football. For me, the most important thing is for the player to be playing well, and the title becomes a consequence of the work."

Despite his success, Willian acknowledged there are two major honours that have eluded him, at club and international level, but he adds their absence from his collection does not detract from his other successes.

"One is the Champions League and the other is the World Cup," he noted. "Every player has that dream.

"Those are the two titles I'd really like to win, but if I don't win them, I'm satisfied with my career and the titles I've already won."

Willian has spent nine seasons in the Premier League, more than he has in any domestic top-flight competition, and he maintains it remains the strongest he has played in.

"The Premier League is the best league in the world," he added. "You'll never have an easy match.

"It might get easier during the game, and you might beat the other team, but you're never going to go into the match thinking it's going to be easy, thinking you're going to win 4-0.

"It is a very difficult league. The last one can take points from the first one, and it is very competitive and that is why it becomes the best in the world."



https://keepup.com.au/news/silverware-no-definition-of-successful-career-for-willian/

WhiteJC

Manchester United 2-1 Fulham: Red Devils clinch third place in the Premier League ahead of Newcastle as Bruno Fernandes and Jadon Sancho rescue comeback victory at Old Trafford

    Manchester United have clinched third place in the Premier League after a comeback win at Old Trafford
    Jadon Sancho scored to pull the hosts level after Kenny Tete's opener before Bruno Fernandes' winner
    Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic was denied from the penalty spot by United goalkeeper David de Gea

Erik ten Hag clasped the microphone and the noise inside Old Trafford reached a crescendo as the Dutchman fixed his sights on the final challenge of his first season as Manchester United manager.

'There is still one game to go,' said Ten Hag, pointing at his squad assembled in the centre circle. 'I'm sure that these players will give everything to beat Manchester City next week. If you have our back, there's a really good chance to take the cup to Old Trafford.'

The crowd loved it. Even the anti-Glazer chants that echoed around the stadium moments earlier when David de Gea received his Golden Glove award had subsided.

There is genuine belief that United can go back to Wembley on Saturday and add the FA Cup to the Carabao Cup they won there in February.

It was testament to the manager that so many fans stayed behind to show their appreciation. A year ago he watched from the stands at Selhurst Park as his new team staggered over the line with a defeat against Crystal Palace on the final day. The contrast could hardly be greater.

Ten Hag will not be satisfied, of course. He wants to keep improving and challenged the board to back him at his post-match press conference.

'You have to invest otherwise you don't have a chance because other clubs will do,' he said. 'We've seen it in the winter. All the clubs around us made huge investments. We didn't but still we made it, so I'm proud of my team.'

Several players will have been making their last United appearances at Old Trafford, but Ten Hag hopes De Gea won't be one of them as talks continue over a new contract.

'I have to repeat, last game, last week, every time, we want him to stay and he wants to stay. We will find each other,' said the United manager.

Ten Hag credited the Spaniard's penalty save – his first in eight years at Old Trafford – from Alexandar Mitrovic in the 25th minute with turning this game. For Mitrovic, it was a miserable return to the ground where he was sent off along with Willian and manager Marco Silva in the FA Cup in March.

It was notable that as soon as the Serbian was booked for tangling with Tyrell Malacia in the 79th minute, Silva substituted his No.9.

'We woke up after the penalty,' said Ten Hag. 'The intensity got higher and we made trouble for Fulham.'

Having trailed to Kenny Tete's header, goals from Jadon Sancho and Bruno Fernandes sent United into the Cup Final on a high.

Only five of their starting line-up were guaranteed to start at Wembley, and there was some positive news about the two players who were injured in Thursday's win over Chelsea.

Luke Shaw was fit enough to take a place on the bench and Ten Hag revealed that Antony's ankle injury may not be as bad as first feared after the Brazilian was carried off in tears.

'We all saw how he came out on Thursday so it's quite soon, but we think it's not too bad,' said Ten Hag. 'He probably will be available for the Cup Final.'

United made a strong start and Bernd Leno was called into action twice in the opening 10 minutes, coming out punch clear from Fred and then turning Marcus Rashford's free kick over the bar.

But Fulham went ahead here in the cup in March from a corner, and they did so again here in the 19th minute. William swung the ball to the near post where Rashford was meant to be marking Tete but he had given the Fulham right-back far too much space. Tete took full advantage as he rose to nod the ball inside De Gea's near post for his first goal of the season.

The Londoners should have doubled their lead six minutes later. United were backpedalling as the visitors broke upfield, and Casemiro brought down Tom Cairney in the box with his trailing leg.

Mitrovic, who was banned for eight games for pushing referee Chris Kavanagh when he was sent off here in March, suffered more misery as De Gea saved his penalty. The United keeper was already diving to his left as the Serbia striker placed the ball too far inside the post and at a height that made it easier to save as well.

It was only the eighth penalty save of De Gea's United career so his delight was understandable. He chased the ball out of play and launched it high into the Stretford End in celebration.

United knew they had to respond and hit back immediately. Rashford and then Alejandro Garnacho fired inches wide within second of one another. Garnacho curled another effort against the bar.

The equaliser arrived six minutes before half-time after Fernandes held off Sasa Lukic and nudged the ball through for Fred. The Brazilian was sent sprawling in the box by the combined efforts of Tete and Tosin Adarabioyo but there wasn't even time to appeal for a penalty as the ball ran for Sancho who touched it past Leno from close-range.

United should have taken the lead within two minutes of the restart when Issa Diop and Adarabioyo allowed Casemiro's long ball to bounce through towards goal and suddenly Rashford was in. United's 30-goal leading scorer went for a first-time finish but poked his shot wide.

The home fans didn't have to wait long for a second goal, however. Fred was the creator with a sublime reverse pass, and Fernandes had timed his run perfectly. He took a touch before dinking the ball over Leno as he rushed out of his goal.

Ten Hag was able to make substitutions ahead of Wembley and one of the replacements, Wout Weghorst, wasted a great chance to score a third towards the end. Weghorst will be another who is unlikely to be back in August as Ten Hag continues to ring the changes. But so far so good, and it could get even better yet.



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-12133827/Manchester-United-2-1-Fulham-Red-Devils-clinch-place-Premier-League-ahead-Newcastle.html

WhiteJC

United come from behind to beat Fulham

Man Utd 2 Fulham 1

Fulham's impressive first season back in the top flight ended with a defeat at Old Trafford.

Kenny Tete gave them an early lead by beating keeper David de Gea at the near post from Willian's corner.

But Aleksandar Mitrovic was unable to take a great chance to double the lead when De Gea saved his penalty after Tom Cairney had been tripped by Casemiro.

Manchester United turned the game around, with Alejandro Garnacho firing against the underside of the Fulham bar shortly before the hosts equalised when Jadon Sancho netted after Fred had bundled his way into the box.

Fred then set up Bruno Fernandes, who rounded keeper Bernd Leno and slotted home.

Fulham were unable to find an equaliser in the second half but a 10th-placed finish represents a job very well done.

Fulham: Leno, Tete, Adarabioyo, Diop, Antonee Robinson, Lukic (Reed 66), Joao Palhinha, Wilson (Solomon 66), Cairney (James 80), Willian, Mitrovic (Vinicius 80).
Subs not used: Rodak, Kebano, Cedric, Reid, Dibley-Dias.



https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/man-utd-v-fulham-fc-report-280523


WhiteJC

Man Utd 2-1 Fulham

Fulham put in another battling display against Manchester United, but once again left with nothing at Old Trafford.

After Kenny Tete had headed us in front, Aleksandar Mitrović saw a penalty saved by David De Gea – a moment which tipped the momentum of the contest.

It gave United a real shot in the arm, and they capitalised on a lucky deflection to equalise through Jadon Sancho.

Bruno Fernandes then got what proved to be the winner early in the second half, as the Whites' final outing of a brilliant season ended in defeat.

There was just the one change from the side that drew with Crystal Palace eight days earlier, with Saša Lukić given a starting berth at the expense of Harrison Reed, who dropped to the bench.

The first shot went the Whites' way following a patient free-kick that eventually saw Issa Diop cushion a header across goal to Mitrović, but he got a little under the ball and nodded over.

United were fortunate to be awarded a 30-yard free-kick when Mitrović appeared to fairly nick the ball off Casemiro's toes, and they almost rubbed salt in with Marcus Rashford's beautifully struck effort, only for Bernd Leno to deny him at full stretch.

But it was a set-piece at the other end that yielded the opener, as Tete got free of his man to nod in Willian's corner at the near post. A simple routine, executed perfectly.

Things could have got even better when Fulham were awarded a penalty for a foul on Tom Cairney by Casemiro, but De Gea guessed correctly and got down brilliantly to deny Mitrović's firm effort.

That was followed by off target long rangers at either end from Lukić and Rashford.

Alejandro Garnacho then turned and shot marginally wide, before crashing one off the underside of the bar as United looked to capitalise on the boost of the penalty save.

Leno was called into action to keep out efforts from Casemiro and Garnacho, but he did so without any distress.

There was little he could do to prevent the equaliser, though, as an incredibly fortuitous ricochet off Tete after he'd tackled Fred fell straight into the path of Sancho who was left with the simplest of finishes.

Rashford should have put his side in front in the opening stages of the second half, but could only send his volley wide, under pressure from Tosin and Diop, having got on the end of a long ball forward.

But they did have the lead before long. Fred slipped in an exquisite reverse pass to get Fernandes in behind our backline, and the Portuguese chipped a delicate effort beyond Leno for 2-1.

Fulham responded with another corner, Mitrović's header from Willian's delivery dropping a yard wide, and a Harry Wilson free-kick which sailed over.

Cairney's eyes will have widened when Mitrović's cushioned header from a deep Tete cross looked set to drop for a simple finish, but Scott McTominay got a last ditch toe on the ball to deny him.

Another opening fell the way of the skipper moments later when substitute Manor Solomon laid the ball into his path – Cairney hit it well but De Gea made a fine fingertip save. Bizarrely, a goal kick was awarded.

Solomon then went himself with a decent effort from the edge of the box, but De Gea was able to repel it on the stretch.

At the other end, Wout Weghorst wasted the chance to put the game to bed when he somehow put his effort wide running onto Sancho's cross as we ticked over 90 minutes.

That proved to be the final opportunity for either side but, while frustrated at Old Trafford again, everyone in black and white can look back on 2022/23 with fondness.

Man Utd: de Gea, Diogo Dalot, Maguire, Lindelöf, Malacia, Casemiro (McTominay 67'), Fred (Eriksen 66'), Sancho, Bruno Fernandes (Pellistri 84'), Garnacho (Martial 67'), Rashford (Weghorst 77')

Subs: Martial, Eriksen, Varane, Shaw, Weghorst, Pellistri, Wan-Bissaka, Butland, McTominay

Fulham FC: Leno, Tete, Tosin, Diop, Antonee Robinson, Lukić (Reed 66'), João Palhinha, Wilson (Solomon 66'), Cairney (James 80'), Willian, Mitrović (Carlos Vinícius 80')

Subs: Rodák, Reed, Kebano, Solomon, Cédric Soares, De Cordova-Reid, James, Carlos Vinícius, Dibley-Dias



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2023/may/28/man-utd-2-1-fulham/

WhiteJC

Fernandes finishes off fiesty Fulham
For a while, Fulham looked like they might set avenge that FA Cup implosion at Old Trafford in March. Marco Silva insisted that neither he or Aleksandar Mitrovic had a point to prove after the meltdowns that saw the Whites surrender a glorious opportunity to reach the last four of the world's oldest cup competition – focusing on setting a new club record top flight points tally. The Cottagers attacked from the outset, rewarded by Kenny Tete's simple header from a Willian corner, but when Mitrovic saw a spot-kick saved by David de Gea, it felt pivotal.

Mitrovic, banned for eight games for his confrontation with Chris Kavanagh, struck his penalty hard and low towards the corner but de Gea, the scourge of Roy Hodgson's side in Hamburg thirteen years ago, palmed it away peerlessly. The Stretford End roared their approval. The Serbian had already wasted a great chance from close range after Issa Diop had headed Willian's ball back across goal – and Fulham paid for his prolificacy after Tom Cairney had been tripped by Casemiro.

The hosts were galvanised by de Gea's first penalty save at Old Trafford in nine years and threatened twice through teenager Alejandro Garnacho, who had broken Fulham hearts in stoppage time at Craven Cottage before Christmas. The lively winger rattled the crossbar after latching onto a pass from Tyrell Malacia before a purposeful run from Bruno Fernandes created the equaliser. He surged away from Sasa Lukic before slipping in Fred. Before the Brazilian could pull the trigger, Tete tackled him but with the ball broke kindly for Jadon Sancho to slot home.

The leveller altered the complexion of the contest and Silva's side were relieved to hear the half-time whistle after surviving a late onslaught that saw Rashford inexplicably fail to convert a glorious chance after latching onto a through ball. Sancho, Fernandes and Dalot all also threatened – and there was little surprise when Erik ten Haag's went ahead ten minutes into the second half. Fred made the goal with a brilliant bit of vision that put Fernandes through on goal, with the Portuguese midfielder lifting a lovely finish over Leno.

Fulham almost replied immediately with Mitrovic heading agonisingly wide from Harry Wilson's corner before Cairney was denied a leveller by an alert bit of covering from substitute Scott McTominay after lovely hold-up play from Mitrovic. The Fulham skipper then saw a shot tipped away by de Gea after bright play from Manor Solomon. The Israeli tested the United goalkeeper's reflexes and Fulham pushed to the end but couldn't conjure up another goal.

That meant that the hosts finished third with 75 points – and got the preparation of a serious examination ahead of the FA Cup final against Manchester City. Silva has already talked about the importance of a busy summer – but both he and his players should be allowed to reflect on a wonderful return to the Premier League.

MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1): de Gea; Dalot, Malacia, Maguire, Lindelof; Fred (Eriksen 66), Caemiro (McTominay 67); Garnacho (Martial 67), Sancho, Fernandes (Pellestri 84); Rashford (Weghorst 77). Subs (not used): Butland, Wan-Bissaka, Shaw, Varane.

BOOKED: McTominay.

GOAL: Sancho (39), Fernandes (55).

FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Leno; Tete, A. Robinson, Adarabioyo, Diop; Palhinha, Lukic (Reed 66); Wilson (Solomon 66), Willian, Cairney (James 80); Mitrovic (Vincius 80). Subs (not used): Rodak, Cedric Soares, Reed, Dibley-Dias, Kebano, Solomon, Decordova-Reid, James, Vinicius.

BOOKED: Palhinha, Mitrovic.

GOAL: Tete (19).

REFEREE: Robert Jones (Merseyside).

ATTENDANCE: 73,465



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2023/05/fernandes-finishes-off-fiesty-fulham/

WhiteJC

A 'brilliant' season, insists Silva as Fulham wrap up after narrow defeat at Old Trafford

Manchester United 2 Fulham 1

Julian Taylor at Old Trafford

There was to be no revenge for the now infamous FA Cup defeat here a couple of months ago for Fulham. Erik Ten Hag roused the Manchester United faithful with his post-match speech, as the hosts prevailed with a 2-1 victory.

Yet, in the grander scheme of matters, a tenth place finish in the Premier League represents real value to a club who have worked diligently in all areas. United, meanwhile, confirmed third spot in what has become quite an intriguing season for them, which will come to a conclusion with an FA Cup final appearance.

Retaining a comfortable status when many had tipped the Cottagers to struggle at the wrong end of the table, amid a day of relegation high drama for a few other sides, less adept at the complexities of a long campaign, is fine consolation. The travelling fans who acclaimed boss Marco Silva at the end of the game clearly have a sense of perspective after one of the club's better seasons for a long time.

Perhaps if Aleksandar Mitrovic hadn't been denied from the penalty spot by United keeper David De Gea, when Fulham were already a goal in front, then the outcome might well have been different. That was, admittedly, a frustrating segment of a clash which was more compelling than one might have imagined, in front of 73,465 at a sun-baked Old Trafford.

Mitrovic, back at the venue where the red mist came down so spectacularly in the 3-1 March capitulation, meriting an eight match ban, could not atone for those events. No matter, as far as the Whites fans are concerned.

If Fulham pressed the self-destruct button previously, they were more organised this time around. Still, their failure to properly threaten on the turnovers cost them against Wembley-bound United. At the end, their boss Ten Hag, launched into a rousing state of the union address, to gear up the support ahead of the FA Cup derby summit against favourites Manchester City.

A year on from United's worst top tier finish in 32 years, the Red Devils will take their place in the Champions League, an environment they habitually assume.

Promising
It all looked so promising for Fulham, when they took the lead in the 18th minute after United's Marcus Rashford almost added to his 30 goal tally for the season, only to see his perfectly flighted free kick turned away by Fulham keeper Bernd Leno. However, following a corner from Willian, a simple flicked header by Kenny Tete from six yards out was all it took for the ball to elude De Gea.

And six minutes later, United took obvious encouragement when their keeper, whose future at the club is under debate, denied Silva's men a second. Casemiro tripped Tom Cairney who had wrong footed the Brazilian just inside the penalty area. However De Gea guessed correctly to palm away Mitrovic's tame spot kick.

Sensing a reprieve, United began to assert themselves, and Garnacho struck the Fulham crossbar.

In 38 minutes, the leveller came.

Jadon Sancho netted from close range when Fulham pair Issa Diop and Antonee Robinson failed to clear a scuffed ball around ten yards out. Sancho's poaching instincts were sufficient to knock the ball past Leno.

United looked the more comfortable in possession against an often tetchy Cottagers after the restart and, in 54 minutes, they went ahead. Bruno Fernandes slipped through the Fulham back line, with Tete playing him onside - and the Reds midfielder clipped the ball perfectly over the advancing Leno.

Urgency
With momentum carrying United, they were possessed with a greater urgency as Wembley next weekend now concentrates their minds. As competitive as Fulham were, epitomised as always by spiky Joao Palhinha, they lacked any regular spells of control.

This has been a long season for every side, Fulham included. Overall, such a lingering question is of little concern right now as Silva and his players can enjoy a well-deserved break.

"We had very good moments in this game," said the Fulham head coach. "The season has been fantastic for this football club. Everyone said Fulham were favourites to go down but we fought for something more. But it has been a brilliant season.

"We kept our identity and my team plan, in our style and in our way."

And, in a brief, optimistic, nod to next term, Silva added: "Now we have to keep the standards and we can't stand still, not at this level. We have to still improve both on and off the pitch but that is normal in football."

Ten Hag, meanwhile, noted: "It was a great save by David – we were a bit messy but got organised and caused trouble for Fulham."

Not many teams can say the same about the west Londoners this season. After all this consistency, they can look forward with genuine encouragement for 2023/24.

Cottagers: Leno, Tete, Adarabioyo, Wilson (Solomon 65), Mitrovic (Vinicius 78), Cairney (James 78), Willian, Palhinha, Lukic (Reed 65), Diop, Robinson



https://www.capitalfootball.co.uk/single-post/cottagers-united


WhiteJC

Silva seeks to build on 'brilliant' season
Marco Silva wants Fulham to build on a 'brilliant' first season back the big time by not resting on their laurels over the summer.

The Cottagers head coach felt his side didn't deserve to lose at Old Trafford after taking the lead through a Kenny Tete header before Aleksandar Mitrovic had a spot kick saved by David de Gea. That miss proved crucial as Jadon Sancho equalised just before half time and a winner from Bruno Fernandes saw United seal third spot.

Silva said he was proud of Fulham's performance both this afternoon and across the whole of a campaign where the Whites were tipped for relegation.

    "We had very good moments in this game. The season has been fantastic for this football club. Everyone said Fulham were favourites to go down but we fought for something more. But it has been a brilliant season. We kept our identity and my team plan – in our style and in our way.

    Now we have to keep the standards and we can't stand still, not at this level. We have to still improve both on and off the pitch but that is normal in football."



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2023/05/silva-seeks-to-build-on-brilliant-season/

WhiteJC

Marco Silva marks Fulham progress after 10th place finish despite Manchester United defeat

Marco Silva insisted the notion of silencing their critics was far from Fulham thoughts at the start of a season in which they have confounded expectactions.

Despite a final day 2-1 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford, Fulham finished the season in a very respectable 10th position on 52 points. It represents a significant overachievement in the context of many pundits' predictions, and a major upgrade on the club's recent Premier League campaigns in 2018/19 and 2020/21 when they were relegated the next season after promotion.

The Cottagers have impressed under Silva, with the Portuguese manager reflecting on his second full campaign at the club – another which marks major progress.

Silva told the BBC: "When everyone was saying we would be first ones to go down...we didn't play to shut up anyone. We played for ourselves, our club and our fans.

"I'm really proud of the way we did it. We kept the same identity from last season."

The game at Old Trafford saw United battle back from behind to claim all three points. Jadon Sancho and Bruno Fernandes netted after Kenny Tete's early headed opener and David de Gea also saved a penalty from Aleksandar Mitrovic as Fulham fell to a third defeat to United this season.

Silva added: "We didn't deserve to lose the game. The game changed completely from that moment [the penalty save]. We should have reacted in a different way. It was a moment for us to show maturity and handle the game in a different way but we haven't done that,

"The game showed again our quality and what we are doing with these players. All season have to be really proud of what we did."



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/marco-silva-fulham-finish-manchester-united-b1084278.html

WhiteJC

Premier League: Sky Sports football writers assess and deliver verdict on each team's season

The 2022/23 Premier League season drew to a close with Leicester City and Leeds United joining Southampton in being relegated; Aston Villa finished seventh to claim the final European place; Sky Sports writers deliver their season verdicts...

With the 2022/23 Premier League season having drawn to a conclusion, Sky Sports' football writers deliver their verdicts on all 20 teams...

Arsenal: An opportunity missed but the future is bright
Arsenal's season can be viewed through different lenses. Having held an eight-point lead at the top of the Premier League table, a position they occupied for 248 days of the campaign, there is no escaping the feeling of an opportunity missed.

But the collapse of their title challenge does not change the fact that they have taken a giant leap forward this season. Arsenal were considered by almost everyone - albeit not this writer - as unlikely to even finish in the top four, never mind fight for the title.

Yet, with the second-youngest team in the division, they have accrued the club's highest points total since the Invincibles. A lack of depth, and Manchester City's relentlessness, ultimately did for them, but the first three quarters of the season were utterly exhilarating.

It was a joy to watch their young stars flourish and the high points over the course of the campaign were numerous, including wins both home and away against Tottenham and Chelsea, as well as victories over Liverpool, Manchester United and Newcastle.

Their late loss of form, just as City were finding an extra gear, invited inevitable scrutiny of their character, but fans will remember the stoppage-time victories over Manchester United, Aston Villa and Bournemouth which made the impossible feel real.

Reiss Nelson's 97th-minute winner against Bournemouth sparked celebrations unlike any seen before at the Emirates Stadium, and while they eventually fell short of their target, Arsenal's season will be remembered as one which brought optimism flooding back. The future of this thrilling young team brims with possibility.
Nick Wright

Aston Villa: Two words. Unai Emery.
Where do you start with Aston Villa? Rarely has the Premier League seen a season of quite such contrasting fortunes, but that comes down to one man alone - Unai Emery.

The harsh tarring of his difficulties in interviews at Arsenal had been cast aside by his Europa League win at Villarreal in 2021, but there was still no guarantee his second spell in English football would work out more profitably than his first.

It did not take long to suggest it might. In the almost three years since he had left the Premier League, Emery set to work improving his English beyond recognition, but his results on the pitch are what has really caught the eye since he arrived at Villa Park.

Had the season started that day, Villa would be only goal difference away from a Champions League place, sandwiched between Newcastle and Manchester United in the table and only four points off second spot.

That would be remarkable enough in itself, but the fact the club he inherited had just been thrashed 4-0 at Newcastle and won only three of their first 13 games amid an increasingly toxic atmosphere - well, you might as well be talking about two different clubs.

Emery's main achievement has been both the simplest and the toughest. Villa had spent plenty of money unwisely since their Premier League return, but there was no way the squad he inherited should have been heading back to the Championship.

He turned his side from under to over-achievers overnight - not only winning five of his first seven games, but then putting a small bump in the road behind them to go on a 10-game unbeaten run, which has earned them a first European season since the days of Martin O'Neill.

Whereas Steven Gerrard never seemed to know his favoured style or line-up, Emery's consistency of selection has laid solid foundations for their success - although there has been nothing simple about the tactical puzzles he has managed to solve time and time again this season.

Villa would have bitten your arm off for a top-10 position when Emery walked through the door, let alone a European tour. Can he repeat the feat next season?

Well, the man who has won more Europa Leagues than anyone else is finally getting the recognition he deserves on these shores. That respect should be enough to make clear this is no flash-in-the-pan season while he is in charge.
Ron Walker

Bournemouth: Making a mockery of pre-season predictions
It has been quite a turnaround for pre-season relegation favourites Bournemouth under Gary O'Neil.

His predecessor Scott Parker was dismissed just 26 days into the season after claiming his squad wasn't good enough for the Premier League. The 9-0 loss at Liverpool pointed towards a long hard nine months of strife.

But O'Neil has galvanised the group and made a mockery of that assertion. There has been the need to negotiate American billionaire Bill Foley's takeover, but January proved a crucial window for the Cherries. Dango Ouattara - signed for £20m from Lorient - and the loan of Matias Vina from Roma have stood out as significant upgrades.

A dramatic defeat back in February at Arsenal from a two-goal lead nonetheless instilled belief that salvation could be reached. From that moment, Bournemouth rose from the canvas and never looked back, winning six of their next nine games to be nine points clear of the bottom three with four games remaining.

Job done, with plenty to spare. O'Neil encouraged his players to prove just about everyone wrong, and Bournemouth have come through with flying colours.
Ben Grounds

Brentford: Quirky, enigmatic but now the top dogs in west London
Once upon a time, Brentford were bottom of the pile when it came to the west London hierarchy.

They stood in the shadow of the glitz and glamour of Chelsea, Fulham have also stood above them as Premier League regulars since the turn of the century - and don't forget the time QPR tried to buy Brentford out of existence through a failed takeover of their neighbours in the 1960s.

Now, no more. Brentford ended this Premier League season as the highest ranked west London club in English football this season. Only title-chasing Arsenal and Tottenham, who they beat at the end of the season, were the only London teams to finish ahead of the Bees this season in the league.

Last season, Brentford were the plucky new kids on the block in their debut Premier League campaign and many expected them to suffer from 'second-season syndrome' this time around.

Instead, they went to the next level.

The Bees' top-half finish saw them become better against the lesser sides in the league, while retaining their tricky status against the top teams. Brentford picked up four points away from home against the top two - they are the only club to win at Manchester City across all four competitions. They beat Manchester United and Liverpool at home, along with Tottenham and Chelsea away this season. They are deserved top-10 finishers.

Most importantly, Brentford have also shown they are more than Ivan Toney - who they will have to be without until the new year after he admitted to 232 FA betting breaches.

Every time Toney does not start, Yoane Wissa scores and Bryan Mbeumo comes out of his shell. The improvement of Kevin Schade and Mikkel Damsgaard next season, after acclimatisation campaigns this term, will help the blow - as well as the transfer window of course.

Ultimately, the Bees are a quirky club. Goalkeeper David Raya is one of the best playmakers, they play four left-footed players across the back four and anyone who has watched a Thomas Frank press conference knows how enigmatic he can be.

But they are improving each year under the Danish manager in terms of league position. Four years ago, they just made the top half of the Championship. This year, they were on the cusp of Europe.

With Brighton showing that you can upset the odds to reach the continental scene, Brentford are a team to watch next season.
Sam Blitz

Brighton: This is no ordinary club outsmarting the Premier League
If at the start of the season you knew Brighton would lose Graham Potter, Yves Bissouma, Leandro Trossard and Marc Cucurella then few will have been rushing to back them for a top-10 finish.

But this is no ordinary club.

In stepped Roberto De Zerbi, who put down the feather dusters used by Potter and replaced them with attacking battering rams. A clear upgrade. Off the Brighton production line came Moises Caicedo, Kaoru Mitoma and Pervis Estupinan to help the Seagulls soar into Europe for the first time in their history.

They have done it with the backdrop of some sensational football that has seen them post underlying performance data akin to Manchester City.

It is easy to forget that in 1997 Brighton almost fell out of the Football League - and almost out of existence. Owner Tony Bloom would have been in the stands that day. He is now running the show but is an owner who does not revel in the limelight - he stayed in the stands as the playing staff did a lap of honour to celebrate with the fans after their win over Southampton that secured their European adventure. His data-led model has provided the backbone of what has been a phenomenal period of recruitment both on and off the pitch.

Bloom - who made his fortune beating the bookmakers by building algorithms that outsmarted the market - is now outsmarting Premier League football clubs with the way he runs the show. What a story. What a football club.
Lewis Jones

Chelsea: Thank goodness that's over
It is hard to look back on Chelsea's season as anything other than a total disaster.

After taking over the club a year ago, Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali oversaw a transfer spend of more than £600m, sacked two head coaches and have seen their team finish in the bottom half of the Premier League for the first time in nearly 30 years.

Despite spending more money on new players than any club in history over the past two transfer windows, Chelsea's performances have regressed dramatically. Not only have they tumbled down the table, but they were brushed aside by Real Madrid in the Champions League and failed to win a game in either the FA Cup or Carabao Cup.

Chelsea lifted two trophies last season but never came close to silverware this time around, with their season essentially over after they were knocked out of Europe in mid-April.

In truth, Chelsea have barely resembled a functioning team since a run of three wins under Graham Potter at the start of March, with Frank Lampard unable to inspire any kind of turnaround since returning to the club.

Instead, Lampard has openly questioned his players' effort levels in both training and matches as they have gone through the motions, counting down the days until a season that nobody saw coming finally ends.

The impending arrival of Mauricio Pochettino - and the promised clear-out of the bloated and underperforming squad that he will inherit - provides hope for the future, but lessons must be learned from this chaotic and dramatic season.
Joe Shread

Crystal Palace: Respectability restored but where do they go from here?
Crystal Palace's campaign started with bundles of optimism. Patrick Vieira did well in his first season in charge, the squad was young and vibrant and there was hope that this might be the time for the Eagles to soar higher.

Nobody would have predicted Roy Hodgson would end up being the man to save the club's season.

The signs were there early on - Vieira's side had a modest start, winning five Premier League games - but a worrying slump in the first three months of 2023 saw the former Arsenal midfielder sacked, replaced by the man he had taken the reins from just 18 months previously.

The difference was immediate. Crystal Palace won their first game of the calendar year in Hodgson's first game back - beating Leicester 2-1 with a dramatic late goal from Jean-Philippe Mateta - winning as many games under the former England boss in two months as they did as Vieira.

The squad was always able to be competitive in the top flight, housing some of the best young talent in the league, and now they have proven it. A special mention too to Eberechi Eze for his first England call-up, having scored six goals with one assist in Hodgson's nine league games, having scored just four goals with three assists in the previous 28 Premier League matches.

It leaves Crystal Palace finishing in a respectable and, given their woes earlier in the campaign, a welcome 11th place. But the question remains - just who will lead Crystal Palace into the future?

As he may now hate people reminding him, Hodgson is 75. Talks will take place on his plans this summer and the turnaround he has bought about is nothing short of remarkable.

However, while he may steady the ship over the next year or two, Hodgson is not Crystal Palace's long-term answer. That is the conundrum that the hierarchy must continue to address as they reflect on another season in the Premier League.
Charlotte Marsh

Everton clamber up mountain but change must come
The last time Everton were relegated in May 1951, Clement Attlee was Prime Minister, Cliff Britton was manager and Everest had yet to be scaled.

It took three years for the club to climb out of the old Second Division. Monday marks the 70th anniversary of Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay's historic ascent.

Everton will have their platinum jubilee at the summit of English football, but their supporters have stared into the abyss throughout this 69th campaign.

Fans with headsets replacing transistor radios for such days will never go out of fashion. News from Leeds and Leicester reverberated around Goodison like wildfire. For Everton, of nine league titles and the most number of seasons of any club in England's top flight, this had become their Everest.

Three successive home defeats and an aggregate 7-1 hiding in a week at Bournemouth earlier in the season in league and Carabao Cup struck an ominous chord.

Back in January and ever since, the board has been absent from Goodison on the grounds of their own safety. When those in power are vilifying their own fanbase, it is quite a feat for the players and fans to have mobilised yet again in the face of adversity.

Dwight McNeil prepared for Sunday's game by watching The Last Dance to block out the build-up. Yerry Mina referenced Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls' tale in his farewell post on the eve of the game.

And when the music stopped at this famous stadium, a goal out of nothing that meant everything kept Everton on the pathway to salvation. They had avoided their day of ignominy but are flying very close to the sun. With the sweeping relief must now come a summer of change.
Ben Grounds

Fulham: Putting down Premier League roots at the third time of asking
Yo-yo club no more. Fulham's previous two promotions to the Premier League had been followed by relegation back to the Championship and though many tipped them to go the same way again that never looked likely once the season got going.

An entertaining draw with Liverpool set the tone and by late October, they were into the European positions and already nine points clear of the relegation zone. Marco Silva soon demonstrated that he had built a team capable of much more than anticipated.

Aleksandar Mitrovic was one of only four players to reach double figures for Premier League goals by the turn of the year but this was about more than one man. Joao Palhinha has been a revelation in midfield. Willian has defied time with some sensational performances.

Silva has improved others too, Harrison Reed adding a new dimension to his game in midfield. Fan favourite Tim Ream has been a leader at the back, Bernd Leno impressive in goal. The creative Andreas Pereira has looked a bargain for a fee of £10m.

The result is Fulham's best league finish in over a decade, perhaps the only blot on the season being the manner of their FA Cup quarter-final exit to Manchester United. Silva and Mitrovic's passion can certainly spill over. It has also fuelled their fine season.
Adam Bate

Leeds: Bielsa legacy in tatters after manager madness
Leeds escaped on the final day of last season but this time relegation felt inevitable - a four-manager campaign often does that.

Jesse Marsch was celebrating this time last year, Marcelo Bielsa's successor dramatically keeping the club up after a 12-game rescue mission.

A £140m summer spending spree, reinvesting the £100m raised from the sales of Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips, to bring in nine new players raised expectations that this season would be different. A further £45.5m in January on four more additions was another statement of intent but Marsch was unable to mould his new-look side into a winning one.

He was sacked in February with the club above the bottom three only on goal difference with their last victory coming in November. Marsch tried to implement a similar style to his teams at Red Bull Salzburg and RB Leipzig but he simply failed to fix Leeds' leaky defence.

Michael Skubala, the club's U21 head coach, had a forgettable three-game spell while Leeds scrambled for a replacement, settling on Javi Gracia. Results improved initially until Crystal Palace left Elland Road with a crushing 5-1 victory and Leeds never recovered from there.

Director of football Victor Orta was axed the day before Leeds hit the panic button and sacked Gracia for Sam Allardyce with four games remaining. Allardyce claimed in his first press conference he is "just as good" as Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp and Mikel Arteta but four winless games later and Leeds' fate was sealed.

Taking only nine points away from home all season showed a lack of versatility and grit to grind out results. Key players like Patrick Bamford and Rodrigo were either injured or misfiring. Talent like Wilfried Gnonto was underused.

Bielsa's legacy is the club being back in the Championship where he found them.
David Richardson

Leicester: From Champions to Championship
Leicester City were crowned Premier League champions just seven-seasons ago. But fast forward 2,557 days and they have become the second side to carry the unwanted tag of 'Champions to Championship' - following on from Blackburn Rovers.

It was hard to see this fall from grace coming. Leicester have finished in the top half in each of the previous five seasons, missing out on Champions League qualification on the final day in both 19/20 and 20/21, prior to eighth place finish last season. But this league can swallow you up. Make one wrong key decision in terms of recruitment or strategy and teams will motor past you. The opposition boardrooms are just too shrewd now. One slip is all it takes.

Leicester's recruitment has where it has all gone wrong. There has always been a next along the production line, a Riyad Mahrez, Harry Maguire, Wesley Fofana, N'Golo Kante or Ben Chilwell. The cupboard has run dry on that part. Patson Daka, Boubakary Soumare and Wout Faes for £67m has been good money spent very badly. James Maddison and Harvey Barnes have flirted with season-saving performances, but both have faltered in the heat of a relegation battle, while Jamie Vardy's legs went last season so a reliance on him has proved fruitless.

It is the Sky Bet Championship now. It could be a long road back if the common theme of bad boardroom decisions continues.
Lewis Jones

Liverpool: Revival comes too late to propel Reds into top four
There can be no disguising the fact that Liverpool's fifth-placed finish this season, to quote star man Mohamed Salah, has been a "failure" for Jurgen Klopp and his players after they came within two games of an historic Quadruple just 12 months ago.

The exertions of playing 63 matches in total and going head to head with champions Man City all the way to the final few seconds of the previous campaign seemed to drain the energy from the Reds, who after a shortened preseason, failed to win any of their first three Premier League games.

In fact, incredible as it sounds, Liverpool never once found themselves occupying a top-four berth in the entire season and not even a 1-0 win over City at Anfield in October could revive their faltering campaign as losses at newly promoted Forest, then at home to struggling Leeds soon followed.

The Reds went into November's World Cup seven points adrift of Tottenham Hotspur in fourth and hoping that the unique midseason break would give them the chance of a reset by resting tired bodies and minds, before the action resumed the following month.

That proved a false hope as, after two unconvincing wins against Aston Villa and Leicester City to get proceedings under way again at the end of the year, their season reached a new low with sobering defeats at Brentford, Brighton and Wolves by an aggregate scoreline of 9-1.

Those one-sided, lethargic setbacks proved the turning point in the campaign for Klopp, who by now had nothing to lose as the season spiralled out of control and Liverpool slipped to 10th in the table, 11 points off the top four.

With a rare full week of training in the international week at the end of March, the German began working on Trent Alexander-Arnold's new hybrid role - and with new ideas, came new energy as the Reds finished the season strongly.

However, it was too little, too late in terms of qualifying for next season's Champions League. In the end, Liverpool's dreadful away form - they lost eight times on the road, compared to just twice last time out - compounded by losing more players to injury than any other top-flight side, cost them dear as Klopp finished outside the top four for the first time (in a completed campaign) while in charge at Anfield.

But when you manage to collect 25 points less than you picked up the previous campaign, that is not surprising.
Richard Morgan

Manchester City: Haaland takes the City juggernaut to an unstoppable level
What more can you say about Manchester City?

Premier League champions for a third successive season. They have now won five of the last six titles and they are showing no signs of stopping.

A sensational run of 12 consecutive league wins in the final weeks of the season has seen Pep Guardiola's side dismantle Arsenal's charge for a first Premier League title since 2003/04. At one stage in January, City trailed the Gunners by eight points, but there was no panic from the reigning champions.

Let's face it, City were not in too bad of a state last season in winning the title, but the addition of Erling Haaland's firepower has taken this City juggernaut to another level. Throw in Kevin De Bruyne's assists, Jack Grealish's improved performances, Ilkay Gundogan's leadership, Rodri's control in midfeld, Nathan Ake's importance in defence and John Stones' ability to step out of defence, Guardiola has got this City machine firing on all cylinders.

The success potentially does not stop there. Attention now turns to securing the treble with City now two victories away from completing a Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League treble - a feat only achieved once in English football by Manchester United in 1998/99.

City's sights are firmly set on the FA Cup final against Manchester United on June 3 and the Champions League final against Inter Milan in Istanbul on June 10, and it's difficult to see how they are stopped now and in the future.

The rest of the Premier League need to find some answers.
Oli Yew

Man Utd: Treble-ending second trophy would be an undoubted success
When Manchester United secured the Carabao Cup in February - their first trophy since 2017 - and looked set to stroll back into the Champions League, progress in their first season under Erik ten Hag was ahead of schedule.

The Dutchman became only the second manager in the club's history - and first since Jose Mourinho - to win a trophy in his first season in charge at Old Trafford, and optimism was high that, at last, the club were back on track.

United's end-of-season wobble, which very nearly opened the door to Liverpool in the race for a top-four finish, threatened to take some of the gloss off the campaign, but it was reapplied by sealing a return to Europe's top table with a game to spare, and another coating can be added if they halt Manchester City's treble hopes with victory in the FA Cup final.

Shockwaves would reverberate around Manchester were City to complete the treble but, as Ten Hag often emphasises, United are in no position to concern themselves with anything other than the task placed in the front of them. Win that final game of the season, and Ten Hag's maiden campaign will be an undoubted success.
Jack Wilkinson

Newcastle: A sleeping giant wakes
Newcastle are back - and sooner than anyone would have expected. After Eddie Howe rescued them from relegation last season, improvement was expected. A first cup final in 24 years and a return to the Champions League for the first time since 2003 was beyond most supporters' wildest dreams.

Despite the vast wealth of their ownership group, Newcastle have not just splashed the cash to reach this point. Recruitment has been measured and sensible. The real transformation has come in the way Howe has coached improvement throughout this team - both for individual players and their collective style.

Their excellent defensive record in the first half of the season was evidence of hours of work on the training ground. Their shift to a more attacking intent in the past few months demonstrates their adaptability. It all adds up to a level of performance across the season which rightly earned Newcastle a place back among the elite.

Anyone who saw the celebrations at St James' Park in recent weeks, when the top-four place was achieved will know that Howe's other big success this year is to unite this club. In the stands, in the dugout and out on the pitch, there is belief, confidence and ambition. That has been missing at Newcastle for a long time. But this is a club going places.
Peter Smith

Nottingham Forest: Survival against the odds
Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis threw the kitchen sink at Forest's quest for survival last summer, splashing millions on 26 new recruits, which included four loan signings.

But fan favourite, Steve Cooper, had a job on his hands to gel the squad and build chemistry between players from the get-go, with Chelsea's dismal campaign after a record-breaking spending spree being a prime example of how extreme overhauls can, initially, have a detrimental impact on performances.

And so it proved. Forest were languishing in the relegation zone for the majority the season until the turn of the year. The club steered clear of the drop zone for three months but slipped back into danger in early April, amid rumours Cooper's job was on the line.

Marinakis took to social media and released a statement 'backing' the manager to end speculation - but it came with a caveat: "Results and performances must improve immediately". Three successive defeats followed against high-flying Aston Villa and powerhouses Liverpool and Manchester United. Cooper remained in charge.

The turnaround came with a 3-1 win over Brighton and Forest proceeded to beat Southampton, draw with Chelsea and secured survival and ended Arsenal's title hopes with a memorable 1-0 win at the City Ground.

Morgan Gibbs-White proved pivotal during the campaign, running farther than any team-mate, chipping in with five goals, eight assists and producing team-topping numbers for chances created, dribbles attempted and completed through-balls.

After securing survival against the Gunners, Marinakis posted: "We continue to write history together!" Southampton, Leeds and Leicester all sacked managers during the campaign to no avail; sticking with Cooper could well have been Forest's saving grace.
Adam Smith

Southampton: Distrust and disunity leads to relegation disaster
It has been a sorry season for Southampton, characterised by a circus of commotion and erratic decision making. Three managers, a record number of games lost (25), a record amount of money spent and one relegation confirmed.

Sport Republic, Saints' relatively new majority share-owners, have assumed a controlling say over the operational running of the club in the last week - having promised to be 'hands off' in their approach when completing their takeover back in January 2022. Such a pledge, idealistic or otherwise, has since been rescinded.

Sport Republic co-founder Henrik Kraft originally said he does not intend "to start any revolutions". Presumably Kraft, now listed as 'Southampton FC chairman' on his personal LinkedIn page, did not imagine the mess that would transpire.

Harmony has eroded, replaced by distrust and disunity. So much so that Southampton's entire board have all been removed, bar one (Toby Steele) who is currently serving out his notice.

Much less a revolution, more a complete overthrow. Identity all but lost.

Unsurprisingly, disillusion on the south coast is rife. Fans have been worn down by the perceived mismanagement of their club, with St Mary's becoming a place to mourn rather than rejoice. Current manager Ruben Selles, a mere placeholder, is also set to depart.

Southampton are winless in their last 13 Premier League games (nine losses), their longest run since 1989. It's going to take a monumental effort to turn such declining form around in the Championship - presuming much of Saints' existing talent will follow high-ranking staff members out the exit door this summer.

There are 68 days between the end of the Premier League season and the start of the new Championship campaign. Better dust off the drawing board.
Laura Hunter

Tottenham: A spectacular unravelling of epic proportions
Having clinched Champions League qualification ahead of Arsenal in May and opened the new campaign with a thumping 4-1 win over Southampton in August, few could have predicted quite how spectacularly Tottenham's season would unravel.

Spurs sat level on points with Manchester City at the top of the table in mid-September, the outlook seemingly bright, but a 3-1 reverse at the Emirates Stadium prompted a run which included seven losses in 12 Premier League games and they never really recovered.

Antonio Conte appeared increasingly detached and downbeat in the dugout and the situation came to a head when, having recovered from surgery to remove his gall bladder in March, he launched an extraordinary attack on his players after a late collapse against Southampton.

By that point, Tottenham had already lost all hope of silverware, crashing out of the FA Cup against second-tier Sheffield United, then exiting the Champions League with a lifeless performance at home to AC Milan in the second leg of their last-16 tie a week later.

Conte left under a cloud, only for the club to name his assistant Cristian Stellini as interim boss. It felt like another misstep and so it proved, the 49-year-old axed after a dismal 6-1 loss to Newcastle in which Spurs conceded five goals inside the first 21 minutes.

Still, though, there was no permanent appointment, with the popular but underqualified Ryan Mason next to step into the breach and Tottenham's dismal form continuing, despite the best efforts of Harry Kane, who somehow plundered 28 Premier League goals as his team-mates floundered.

Most supporters will just feel relieved that a nightmarish campaign is finally over but, with the club seemingly no closer to naming their next manager, and with Kane's future at the club once again in doubt, there is little clarity about where exactly they go next.
Nick Wright

West Ham: All roads lead to Prague
It has been a season to forget for West Ham domestically but could end up being one of their greatest in a generation if they're successful in next month's Europa Conference League final in Prague.

David Moyes' side wilted under the weight of expectation following back-to-back top-seven finishes and a summer expenditure exceeded only by Chelsea and Man Utd. This was meant to be a season of progression, instead Hammers fans were met with regression. It nearly cost Moyes his job.

Reports suggested he was one game from the chop in January. But Moyes was triumphant in the game against Everton dubbed 'El Sackico' as he bested Frank Lampard, who was let go by the Toffees a few days later. Moyes just about clung on and those days seem like distant memories now.

Often derided as a 'Mickey Mouse Cup', the Europa Conference League has provided salvation for West Ham and their manager this season. A near-perfect record in the competition has been the only redeeming facet of an otherwise sub-standard campaign.

Now Moyes and his players are one game from writing their names in West Ham history alongside the likes of Bobby Moore and Geoff Hurst, who were part of the 1965 European Cup Winner's Cup-winning side. It would be the perfect farewell for their captain, Declan Rice, too.

Beat Fiorentina on June 7 in Prague and all will be forgiven. Heck, with Europa League qualification and a trophy in the bag, it would be looked back on as a season to savour.
Zinny Boswell

Wolves: Home comforts turn a mess into comfortable survival
The first half of Wolves' season was a mess. Despite considerable investment in the summer, Bruno Lage departed with the team in the relegation zone following one win from the first eight games and the situation deteriorated under caretaker boss Steve Davis.

Enter Julen Lopetegui. With Wolves bottom at Christmas, their stoppage-time winner at Everton on Boxing Day began the turnaround and fears of the drop dissipated long before the end of the season. It was top-half form during his 23 games in charge.

The January signings helped. Craig Dawson and Mario Lemina had a big impact, bringing experience to the team that had been lost following the decision to allow captain Conor Coady to leave. It was not always pretty under Lopetegui but he found a way.

The home form was critical. Twenty points from 11 games. He never did resolve the scoring problem but that did not matter given that Wolves conceded only seven goals in those games - a better defensive record than even Manchester City since Christmas.

What happens next is in doubt. Lopetegui has already described this as his greatest achievement and will want financial backing to progress - backing that may not be forthcoming. The future of Ruben Neves, the captain and best player, is unclear too.

A rebuild is required with heroes of the club's back-to-back seventh place finishes, when they reached a European quarter-final, set to move on. But even if the future is not paved with gold, thanks to Lopetegui, Wolves embark on it from within the Premier League.
Adam Bate



https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11661/12887673/premier-league-sky-sports-football-writers-assess-and-deliver-verdict-on-each-teams-season


WhiteJC

Willian would like to extend Fulham stay but no decision made on Brazilian's future

Willian wants to stay put at Fulham, though a decision has yet to be made on the Brazilian's future at Craven Cottage.

The 34-year-old former Chelsea and Arsenal playmaker joined Fulham in September last year and has been a key player for Marco Silva's men this season.

Fulham signed off on an impressive first campaign back in the Premier League with a 2-1 defeat at Manchester United on Sunday, with Willian setting up Kenny Tete's opening goal.

That represented Willian's fifth league assist of the season, and his 10th direct goal contribution in the competition for Fulham.

Willian – who is soon to be out of contract – is unsure if he will be staying in west London, but he would be happy to do so.

"I don't know yet," he told Stats Perform. "Honestly, I have no idea what is going to happen. The future belongs to God.

"If I stay at Fulham, for sure I'll be fine, I'll be happy. I feel very good there, it's a club that welcomed me very well. But if it's somewhere else, I'll try to do my best in the same way.

"I haven't decided yet. We'll see what happens in the next few weeks, what I'll decide. But if I could stay in the Premier League and at Fulham, it would be a good thing for me."

Explaining why he elected to return to England with Fulham, who had been tipped to struggle yet managed to remain well clear of danger, Willian said: "I've always loved the Premier League. That's not news to anyone, everyone knows how much I'm a fan of the league here.

"The Premier League, for me, is the best league in the world.

"Deciding to go to Fulham was a matter of a week or so. I was already in London. I came here to be closer to here and to have some conversations with my manager. It was a matter of a week or so before I decided to go to Fulham.

"I had some talks with Marco Silva as well and I really liked what I talked to him about and what he told me."

Another new signing that has starred for the Cottagers this season is Joao Palhinha, who has impressed as a holding midfielder.

"He's our watchdog," Willian said of the in-demand Portugal international. "He's the watchdog of our team. Without a doubt, he's an important player.

"He's a player who does a fundamental job. As they say in football, he does the dirty work, which is the player who steals a lot of the balls and makes it possible for us to attack the opposition."



https://keepup.com.au/news/willian-would-like-to-extend-fulham-stay-but-no-decision-made-on-brazilians-future/