Thursday Fulham Stuff - 01/06/23...

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Marco Silva's post-match chat with Fred
A Manchester United fan has craftily captured Marco Silva's post-match natter with Fred in the Old Trafford car park.

The footage shows the Fulham head coach letting all of the opposition players go by before he began a lengthy conversation with the Brazilian midfielder. The 30 year-old only has a year left on his contract at United and has been named as one of the players likely to be moved on by Eric ten Haag. Surely, Silva couldn't be sounding him out about joining his compatriots Andreas Pereira and Willian at Craven Cottage ...



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2023/05/marco-silvas-post-match-chat-with-fred/

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Kenny Tete, baby
There's a lovely little tribute to Kenny Tete on The Athletic by Ahmed Shooble this morning after the right back popped up with another goal yesterday.

The Dutch defender's first Premier League goal had us all dreaming of a famous end-of-season win at Old Trafford and, although Fulham had to come to turns with leaving Manchester with nothing, it wasn't for the want of trying. Tete's transformation from being benched by Scott Parker at the end of the 2019/20 campaign when the Whites grabbed an unlikely draw at United having already been relegated to being one of the best right backs in the top flight has been terrific to watch.

Most crucial has been the full back's ability to remain injury-free for the first time in his career. The former Lyon defender played more than 2,500 minutes in the league this term – his best return since he stepped up to senior football. He nullified Alejandro Garnacho, who had scored that sensational late winner at Craven Cottage in the autumn brilliantly: the latest in a long line of outstanding displays this season.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2023/05/kenny-tete-baby/

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Fulham mulling Fred move
It seems as if they could be no smoke without fire. The Manchester United Evening News reports today that intermediaries between United and Fred have floated the possibility of the Brazilian midfielder joining Fulham this summer – only hours after he was caught on camera chatting with the Cottagers' head coach Marco Silva in the Old Trafford car park after yesterday's game.

With the Glazer sale of the club still dragging on, Erik ten Hag may have to make his first moves in the transfer market without significant backing from the club's board. Fred only has a year left on his contract and made only 22 appearances this term – his fewest since joining the club five years ago – and possibly a result of his poor performance in March's 7-0 drubbing by Liverpool. The MEN suggests that ten Hag wants to freshen up his midfield and Fred has been regularly linked with an exit this summer.

Silva is keen to add experience to his engine room this summer with the Fulham squad light on back up to Joao Palhinha and Harrison Reed. Serbian international Sasa Lukic is still acclimatising to the Premier League and Fred, who made Manchester United's winner with a fine through ball for Bruno Fernandes, could be an attractive cut-price acquisition.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2023/05/fulham-mulling-fred-move/

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Aleksandar Mitrovic gushes over £50m player Liverpool reportedly want

Aleksandar Mitrovic has lauded his Fulham teammate Joao Palhinha as the Premier League signing of the season, with Liverpool reportedly interested in the midfielder.

Speaking on the Fulham Fix Podcast, the Serbian international gushed over the 27-year-old Portuguese star after an incredible debt season in England, with Palhinha playing a key role in the Cottagers claiming a top-half finish in their first year back in the top-flight.

TalkSport recently reported that Liverpool are interested in the former Sporting Lisbon star, and Mitrovic has been amazed by what Palhinha has done this campaign. The striker said: "For me personally, [Joao] Palhinha is the signing of the season so far, amazing, amazing [player].

With Liverpool in the market for multiple midfielders this summer, Palhinha could be an ideal option for the Reds, even with a reported asking price north of £50m. And Mitrovic's comments on his Fulham teammate only highlight just how good the Craven Cottage dynamo has been this season.

Indeed, whilst signing Palhinha signs easy enough on paper, Fulham will likely do all they can this summer to keep the likes of Liverpool away from the midfielder, even if the Anfield side launch a bid of their own to sign the Portuguese superstar.

Liverpool should consider Palhinha offer despite Fulham's stance
Palhinha has enjoyed a dream debut year with Fulham in the Premier League, and whilst the west London side will do all they can to keep hold of the midfielder, Liverpool should be willing to test the waters for the Portuguese star this summer with an offer.

The Fulham man fits the bill for what Liverpool want from a midfielder in the market this summer. And although, the Cottagers will be within their right to knock back any attempts for Palhinha, the Reds have nothing to lose if they come in with a bid for the 27-year-old.



https://www.rousingthekop.com/2023/05/31/aleksandar-mitrovic-gushes-over-50m-player-liverpool-reportedly-want/

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Looking back on Fulham's record-breaking season

In his debut piece, Stephen Sheldrake looks back at a campaign for the ages under Marco Silva.

Rewind two years. After a turgid Premier League campaign under Scott Parker, where the Whites chalked up a grand total of five wins across an entire campaign (not to mention a meagre nine goals at the Cottage all season), even the most optimistic of Fulham fans would be forgiven for feeling a little despair.

Then in steps Marco Silva. And with him, an air of excitement returns to the club. But after a catastrophic final season with Everton still lingering in some fans' memories, alongside alarm bells regarding his dubious loyalty to former clubs, some of our less eager fans tentatively waited for him to prove himself before allowing themselves to get too excited, too soon.

Fast forward to today, and Silva has more than proved himself, alongside club legend Luis Boa Morte. We lifted the Championship title with a record 106 goals, and we've now established ourselves in the Premier League, securing a top 10 finish at the first time of asking. Not bad at all for a 'yo-yo' club, a label that all Fulham fans knew deep down was unjust given our 13-year success in England's top flight with a European final to boot.

The beauty of it all is that it's not just about the record-breaking statistics that have come over the last two campaigns, it's been the manner in which we have achieved such success. Playing football with a Portuguese-inspired attacking flair and intensity, always driven by an underlying will to win. Combine this ethos with the unwavering level of passion on the sidelines (a passion that has seen us sat on the naughty step on at least one memorable occasion) and you get yourself a club with ambition, drive, and one very happy fanbase.

Wins wins wins – it's the Marco way
The mighty Whites arrived in the Premier League like a graceful swan in the summer of 2001. Three years later, Chris Coleman led us to a club record 14 wins in a PL campaign. We matched it on three occasions – in 2005/06 (under Cookie again), 2008/09 (led by Roy Hodgson), and in 2010/11 (with Martin Jol) – but we could never top it. Well, that was of course until now, with Marco Silva's strong intent and attacking prowess leading us to a grand total of 15 wins in the 2022/23 campaign, and a whopping 52 points – just one short of the all-time record under the aforementioned Hodgson. What a pair of legends.

Goals galore – that's the way the Cookie crumbles
It'll come as no surprise to the Fulham fanbase that this season has produced the most goals in a Premier League campaign for the Whites, which due to Marco and his team's attacking philosophy seemed somewhat inevitable, but they faced stiff competition.

Under Coleman, Fulham managed to smash the back of the net 52 times both on the 2003/04 and 04/05 seasons back to back – a feat that deserves so much credit with the shoestring budget that Cookie was given at the time.

But alas, records were made to be broken, and Silva's side bagged a brilliant 55 goals in 38 games against some of the world's very best defences. Our opening game against Liverpool signalled our intent from the get-go; the 2-2 draw showcased the style of football we were going to be imposing on our opponents all season.

Top goalscorers – someone's on fire
While Clint Dempsey's emphatic goalscoring campaign under Martin Jol in 2011/12 saw him bag an incredible 17 goals, alongside the ever classy Dimitar Berbatov who hit 15 goals the following season under the same manager, we can't look back at this campaign without highlighting the contributions of one Aleksander Mitrovic.

With 14 goals to his name, he's not only set a personal record for himself in the top flight, but when you consider he has achieved these numbers having only started 23 out of his 25 appearances, one can only imagine what a 38 game campaign would have looked like.

With an average of 143 minutes per goal (one in every 1.6 games) and a couple of assists on top of that, Mitro has spearheaded Fulham's attack to great success this season. If all of the cogs work together in our next campaign, we could be looking at an almighty season for the big man. Just imagine if he scored those four penalties... (we won't talk about that particular record.)

Away wins – feeling at home on the road
Historically not known for dominating teams away from home in the top flight, Fulham grabbed an impressive seven wins and two draws on the road, scoring 24 goals in the process, placing them in sixth in the away table. This may surprise some younger fans to hear, but did you know that on more than one occasion, Fulham only registered a single away win in an entire top flight campaign? Dark times.

This impressive feat by Marco's side not only beats Fulham's greatest ever away goals tally (thanks Tete) but also smashes our away wins record, both previous accolades set by the impressive Chris Coleman again, whose side hit 23 away goals and five wins in the 2003/04 season.

Other fun notes looking at the away game table this season include Arsenal actually topping the league, Brighton sitting in the top four and Southampton placed comfortably in 16th, safe from relegation. Don't you just love stats?

There's only one team in Fulham
Perhaps the most important record of them all though has to be the glorious realisation that Fulham have not only finished above their neighbours Chelsea in the Premier League table for the first time since its inception, they've done it in emphatic fashion.

A gentle reminder that Todd Boehly splashed out £585.5 million this season to try and propel the blues to glory, while Fulham made shrewd but spectacular signings with the likes of Leno (£4m) and Willian (free) the tip of the iceberg, alongside the likes of Palhinha (£20m) and Pereira (£10m).

And so we have it. Chelsea sit in 12th place on 44 points, with Fulham a colossal eight points ahead on 52. We end the season unbeaten against our neighbours, thanks to a home win with an away draw, stealing the glory away and rightfully returning it back to London's Original Football Club.

Fellow Fulham fans, enjoy your summer looking back at what has been a well and truly spectacular season. Let's revel in this moment of success together, and look forward to what should promise to be a truly thrilling 2023/24 campaign for the mighty Whites.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2023-05-31-looking-back-on-fulhams-record-breaking-season/

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"I like the sound of this" - Norwich City closing in on Fulham transfer: The verdict
Football League World take a look at reports linking Fulham centre-back Shane Duffy with a move to Norwich City this summer.

This article is part of Football League World's 'The Verdict' series, which provides personal opinions from the FLW writers regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

After a disappointing 2022/23 campaign, Norwich City will be looking to bounce back next season.

It looks bound to be a busy few months ahead at Carrow Road, with Canaries boss David Wagner set for his first summer window in charge of the club, and no doubt keen to put his own mark on the club's current playing squad.

With Ashley Barnes already signed, it now appears the club are targeting another experienced player, current Fulham defender Shane Duffy.

That is according to Alan Nixon via Patreon, who reports that the Canaries are 'closing in' on the 31-year-old.

With the links to Norwich in mind, we asked three of our FLW writers for their thoughts on whether or not Duffy would be a good signing for the Canaries.

Simmey Hannifin-Donaldson
It does feel like the right time for Shane Duffy to drop down to the Championship.

After a fine few seasons at Brighton in the Premier League, his involvement at top-flight level has dwindled in recent campaigns, but that doesn't mean he doesn't still have plenty to offer.

Dropping down a division, and still just 31-years-old, Duffy could be an excellent addition for Norwich this summer.

The Canaries are not blessed with depth in central defence as it is, and with Grant Hanley having injured his Achilles, and continued speculation over Andrew Omobamidele's future, central defensive additions are needed.

On a free, Duffy would be a shrewd one, for sure, and whilst not the flashiest signing, it is one of those that come the end of next season, we could look back on as being a really key addition for the Canaries if they go on to have any success next campaign.

Adam Elliott
Duffy is a solid signing on a free, but it doesn't scream the ambition of a side who should be gunning for promotion.

Both he and Ashley Barnes will add valuable experience and know-how to their squad; however, neither are the same players they used to be.

Norwich need to start investing in more peak-age players soon, even if that requires putting up a bit of cash to do so.

Norwich have a decent core of options for second tier level now in the central-defensive area, with Ben Gibson, Grant Hanley, Andrew Omobamidele, and now Duffy to choose from.

Sam Rourke
I like the sound of this.

It looks like Duffy's days in the Premier League are numbered and a switch down to the Championship could be what he needs to revitalise his career.

Andrew Omobamidele is someone who is likely to receive considerable interest this summer in the transfer window and if he does depart, reinforcements will be needed at centre-back to fill the void.

Duffy would add another real strong element of experience following the addition of Ashley Barnes and with the likes of Ben Gibson and Grant Hanley also at the club in defence, it could be a really sturdy back-line jam packed full of nous and experience.

He's someone who could easily start for the Canaries next season and become a real figurehead in the side's defence, so for me, this looks like a no-brainer.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/preston-north-end-keen-to-sign-rotherham-united-and-qpr-target/

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Dan James named in latest Wales squad

Welsh winger set to feature in Euro 2024 qualifiers
Wales boss Rob Page has announced his 25-man squad for Wales' latest Euro 2024 qualifying fixtures next month.

Cymru take on Armenia and Türkiye in June and will be wanting to continue their unbeaten start to their qualifying campaign after drawing with Croatia and picking up three points against Latvia.

Dan James featured 28 times in all competitions for both Leeds and Fulham throughout the 2022/23 campaign and scored three times. The winger has played 43 times for Wales since his debut in 2018 and has scored five goals.

Wales squad:
Wayne Hennessy (Nottingham Forest), Danny Ward (Leicester City), Adam Davies (Sheffield United), Joe Rodon (Rennes - on loan from Tottenham Hotspur), Ben Cabango (Swansea City), Chris Mepham (AFC Bournemouth), Joe Low (Bristol City), Connor Roberts (Burnley), Morgan Fox (Unattached), Neco Williams (Nottingham Forest), Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), Ethan Ampadu (Spezia - on loan from Chelsea), Joe Morrell (Portsmouth), Jordan James (Birmingham City), Dan James (Fulham - on loan from Leeds United), Nathan Broadhead (Ipswich Town), Aaron Ramsey (OGC Nice), Harry Wilson (Fulham), Ollie Cooper (Swansea City), Luke Harris (Fulham), Brennan Johnson (Nottingham Forest), David Brooks (AFC Bournemouth), Liam Cullen (Swansea City), Kieffer Moore (AFC Bournemouth), Tom Bradshaw (Milwall)



https://www.leedsunited.com/news/club/31528/dan-james-named-in-latest-wales-squad

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Fulham transfer guide: Recruitments out wide in defence needed while Joao Palhinha must be protected

Evolution not revolution expected at Craven Cottage this summer

The success Marco Silva has enjoyed in his two seasons at Fulham have seen his involvement in the player recruitment process gradually grow.

That is a big positive for the Cottagers ahead of a transfer window for which they seem well prepared.

They invested smartly last summer and have a well-balanced squad as a result.

Their transfer business may be as much about convincing players to stay at the club as it is about signing new ones.

Top priority
Wingers. Willian and Manor Solomon were crucial out for Fulham wide this season could be key to their hopes of prospering again next season.

Willian signed a one-year contract after joining on a free transfer last summer and is in talks over an extension.

Solomon has been on loan from Shakhtar Donetsk and a FIFA ruling has confirmed he will be able to leave the Ukraine club on a free transfer this summer.

Fulham would like to secure him to a permanent deal but are set to face competition from Premier League rivals.

What else they need
Fulham hope to strengthen at centre-back, where Tosin Adarabioyo and Issa Diop need more competition, Tim Ream is not getting any younger and Shane Duffy is out of contract.

Both full-back positions could also do with bolstering as the understudies on both sides — Layvin Kurzawa and Cedric Soares — are set to leave after loan spells.

Fulham must also keep half an eye on defensive midfielders. Joao Palhinha has been one of the signings of the season and is attracting interest from rivals Premier League clubs.

Possible ins
Solomon became a valuable source of goals when Aleksandar Mitrovic was serving his eight-match ban and would be a great signing.

There are no suggestions Mitrovic or his deputy Carlos Vinicius will leave this summer, but striker Fran Navarro from Portuguese side Gil Vicente is being monitored.

Fulham have also been linked with £13m Lyon midfielder Romain Faivre.

Possible outs
Mitrovic is bound to attract some interest after scoring 14 Premier League goals this season and showing he can cut it in the top-flight. Chelsea are said to consider the Serb among their long list of a possible forward targets.

Veteran centre-back Duffy will likely leave when his contract expires next month.

It remains to be seen whether Neeskens Kebano, injured for most of the season, is offered a new contract before his also expires. Dan James's loan from Leeds comes to an end this summer.



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/fulham-transfer-window-2023-palhinha-b1084682.html

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Mark Schwarzer claims £50m player will almost certainly leave after he's linked to Arsenal

Pundit Mark Schwarzer has said that Joao Palhinha will almost certainly leave Fulham this summer amid interest from Arsenal and other teams.

Speaking on the Gegenpod Podcast, Schwarzer was full of praise for the Portuguese international.

Few players have had as big an impact at their clubs this season as Joao Palhinha.

Signed for £20m from Sporting CP, Palhinha helped Fulham achieve a remarkable top-half finish.

The battling midfielder was the best tackler in the league and scored a couple of brilliant goals too.

Arsenal have been linked with Palhinha as they look to improve their midfield options.

The £50m-rated 27-year-old could be an alternative to Declan Rice in a holding role for the Gunners.

Schwarzer has claimed that he would be very surprised if Palhinha didn't move this summer with Arsenal keen.

Fulham will be hoping he spends one more season at Craven Cottage given his importance to the side.

Schwarzer predicts Arsenal target Palhinha will move this summer
When selecting their Team of the Season, the Gegenpod panel initially selected West Ham captain and fellow Arsenal target Declan Rice.

However, Schwarzer wasn't happy with that choice and said: "Yeah, I'm going to put [Joao] Palhinha in there instead of Declan Rice.

"I know that's a big call but I'm going to do that.

"I think he's been exceptional for Fulham. You can't underestimate how big a signing he has been for Fulham this season.

"I mean, I would be surprised if he stayed at Fulham in the summer, I would be very surprised if there's not a list of clubs who will be lining him up because I think he's a really, really good player.

"[He's] underrated in a lot of ways."

Fulham fans won't appreciate Schwarzer suggesting Palhinha is almost certainly leaving this summer, especially with teams like Arsenal circling.

Marco Silva will be hoping for his side to kick on next year and having Palhinha in the side is essential to that.

If the Whites could bring in a large fee for the Portuguese, that would make their squad-building exercise much easier.

However, it's hard to see them finding another player on the market who can do what Palhinha has done so well this year.

For Arsenal, he won't be their first choice given their preference for Rice and Moises Caicedo.

They could do a lot worse than consider the rangy 27-year-old when thinking about progressing in the Champions League next year.



https://tbrfootball.com/mark-schwarzer-claims-50m-player-will-almost-certainly-leave-after-hes-linked-to-arsenal/

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Willian's Goal of the Season Nomination

Willian's effort against Nottingham Forest has been nominated for the Premier League's Budweiser Goal of the Season award.

The beautifully placed strike, which also won the divisional Goal of the Month accolade for February, is one of nine in contention for the seasonal prize.

Willian's competition comes from Allan Saint-Maximin, Ivan Toney, Miguel Almiron, Demarai Gray, Michael Olise, Jonny, Matheus Nunes and Julio Enciso.

Voting is open from now until 6pm Friday, with the winner announced on Sunday.

Show your support for Willian's goal by voting for him at the below link.



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2023/may/31/willians-goal-of-the-season-nomination/

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Willian nominated for goal of the season
Willian's wonderful strike against Nottingham Forest has been selected as one of nine efforts in the running for the Premier League's goal of the season award.

The Brazilian winger, who has reignited his career since moving to Craven Cottage on a free transfer in September, has already been recognised for the goal that gave Marco Silva's side the lead against Forest in February – as he won the goal of the month vote in that month.

The 34 year-old is up against Allan Saint-Maximin, Ivan Toney, Miguel Almiron, Demarai Gray, Michael Olise, Jonny, Matheus Nunes and Julio Enciso. The winner is decided by the result of a public ballot, which runs until 6pm on Friday. You can vote for Willian here.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2023/05/willian-nominated-for-goal-of-the-season/

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Season Ticket Renewal Window Closed

The Season Ticket Renewal Window is now closed. Thank you to all supporters who have renewed their seat for the 2023/24 Premier League season!

What Happens Next?
Following the closure of the Renewal Window, two Seat Move Windows will now take place to allow for supporters to move seats should they wish to move to sit next to friends or family.

The first Seat Move Window is from 10am-5pm on Thursday 1st June and is for displaced Season Ticket Holders (Riverside Stand & affected supporters sat in P4).

The second Seat Move window is from 10am-5pm on Friday 2nd June and is for all 2023/24 Season Ticket Holders.

Supporters are only able to move seats by calling 0203 871 0810 or visiting the Fulham FC Ticket Office in person.

Following these two windows, all remaining seats will be released who have joined the 2023/24 Season Ticket Waiting List at 10am on Monday 5th June.

Finally, all remaining seats will go on General Sale at 10am on Wednesday 7th June, subject to availability.



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2023/may/31/season-ticket-renewal/

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Fulham 2022/23 Season review: The highs and lows of an impressive campaign

Having secured a swift return to Premier League football with a first league title in 21 years, Fulham began the 2022/23 campaign with one thing on their mind – survival.

To achieve their goal, the Cottagers needed to halt a worrying streak of being relegated as soon as they secured promotion – a run stretching back to 2018/19.

Fast forward nine months later, and it's a carnival at Craven Cottage with Marco Silva's side defying expectations to secure their highest top-flight finish since 2008/09.

Fulham will be considered overachievers following a brilliant campaign riddled with highs and lows. Here's Fulham's 2022/23 season review.

Player of the Year: Aleksandar Mitrovic
Aleksandar Mitrovic spearheaded Fulham's Championship win, and the Serbian continued in the same fashion to ensure his side retained top-flight status for the first time since 2012/13.

The 28-year-old underlined his importance to Silva's team scoring 14 goals in 23 Premier League appearances, making him the club's top scorer this term.

Mitrovic's goals and all-round performances played a pivotal role in Fulham's success story this season, with the Serbia international also bagging two assists in a standout campaign.

Performance of the season
Fulham had several impressive performances, including their famous 2-1 victory over ten-man Chelsea in January. But their best display came in the 2-2 draw with Liverpool at the start of the season.

The Cottagers reintroduced themselves to the Premier League with a standout performance that nearly stunned Jurgen Klopp's side, with Mitrovic grabbing his first two goals of the season.

Liverpool, who subsequently endured an abysmal campaign, were arguably not up to their usual standards, but that takes nothing away from Fulham, who earned a result against the Anfield giants.

Disappointment of the season
Fulham endured a topsy-turvy campaign but emerged stronger than ever with a solid foundation they will hope to build on next season.

The only thing that could pass as a disappointment for Silva's side is their unlikely European push that faded into despair, but all's good that ends well.

Establishing themselves as a top-half team is enough evidence that there are better days to come, but it remains to be seen if the Cottagers can rally to a place in Europe next season.

What do the stats say?
Fulham were impressive last season, and they have not looked back since, with Silva waving his wand to produce another magical campaign for the Cottagers.

They finished 10th in the Premier League table, having won 15 of their 38 league games (D7, L16), seven points above bottom-half toppers Crystal Palace.

The stats behind their successful campaign are also impressive, with the Cottagers scoring 55 goals – the third most of any side outside the top seven.

They averaged 1.4 goals per match, which is fair enough, considering they created 40 big chances (1.6 per game).

However, Silva would not have been impressed with his side's defensive performance, with Fulham conceding 53 goals – the second-highest of any side in the top half of the table.

Signing Bernd Leno from Arsenal proved a masterstroke, but even the German's heroics were not enough to stop Silva's side from shipping in goals.

Leno made an impressive 146 saves (3.8 per match) that led to nine clean sheets but often had to pick the ball out of his own net, with his side averaging 1.4 goals conceded per match.

Verdict
Fulham have defied expectations with aplomb, and Silva has proven a shrewd acquisition by the club since joining in 2021.

Two years under the Portuguese tactician, and the progress has been immense, with the club securing their highest Premier League finish in 14 years.

The Fulham faithful can dream of an even better campaign next season – although much of that will be down to the club's activity in the transfer market.

Fulham cannot complain about their season, with the West Londoners punching above their weight, but Silva will certainly be eyeing an elusive place in Europe next season.



https://sports-view.co.uk/2023/05/fulham-2022-23-season-review-the-highs-and-lows-of-an-impressive-campaign

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REVEALED: Brentford, Fulham and Liverpool benefitted more from VAR calls than any other clubs this season, while Brighton and Man City lost out... so where does YOUR club place on 'net score' table?

    The Premier League season saw referees and VAR come under heavy scrutiny
    It's been revealed how many VAR decisions each club had for and against them
    Liverpool, Fulham and Brentford were among the teams who benefited the most

Every season supporters feel as if their teams have been hard done-by refereeing decisions and since it was introduced to the Premier League in 2019, VAR has added to the sense of injustice.

This season has been no different with the PGMOL coming under significant pressure for mistakes, with new technical director Howard Webb repeatedly outlining his desire to improve officiating in the top flight.

And in research compiled by ESPN, it has been shown that Brentford, Fulham and Liverpool benefited more from VAR calls than any other clubs this season.

The analysis focused purely on decisions that were overturned by VAR with 116 in total across the campaign.

This included decisions leading to goals, disallowed goals, red cards and penalties, among other things.

Measured by a 'VAR - net score', Brentford were in first place with a +6 rating given they had 11 decisions overturned in their favour and five against.

Liverpool and Fulham were tied in joint-second place with a VAR net score of +5, while Nottingham Forest were not too far behind them with +3.

At the other end of the table, champions Manchester City and this season's surprise package Brighton were the teams most negatively affected by VAR as both had four more decisions go against them than for them.

Relegated sides Leeds and Leicester City could perhaps count themselves unlucky as they had VAR net scores of -3 and -2 respectively.

Meanwhile, the old adage that bad refereeing decisions balance themselves out was pertinent for Chelsea, Everton and Manchester United who all ended with a score of 0.

Liverpool's position as the second biggest beneficiary of VAR decisions is perhaps surprising given the many outbursts of Jurgen Klopp this season.

Most notably, after their dramatic 4-3 victory over Tottenham in April, Klopp claimed that referee Paul Tierney 'had something against' his side.

The German had said: 'We have our history with Tierney, I really don't know what he has against us. He has said there [are] no problems but that cannot be true.

'How he looks at me, I don't understand it. In England nobody has to clarify these situations, it's really tricky and hard to understand.

'What he said to me when he gave me the yellow card is not OK.' Klopp was ultimately handed a two-match ban for the comments.

On another occasion, following a 3-1 defeat to Brentford in January, Klopp had fumed at officials after Bryan Mbeumo's third goal, claiming he fouled Reds defender Ibrahima Konate in the process.

When asked if he spoke to the officials post-game, the German fired a dig at them as he said: 'Yeah, but actually that's exactly the same as I would talk to my microwave, you get no response, really. It's always the same.

'Before the season they gave us advice that the players have to be careful in these moments because the refs will have an eye on it. You see in these games pretty much everything is allowed, it's always on the edge and they are using it.'

During the same game, Liverpool had benefitted from one of the nine VAR decisions that were overturned in their favour when Ben Mee had a goal ruled out for offside in the 39th minute.

Elsewhere, during their 1-0 win over Manchester City in October, Phil Foden had a goal ruled out for a foul by Erling Haaland on Fabinho in the build-up, before Mohamed Salah scored the winner.

Meanwhile, in both games against Chelsea this season - which ended in dire 0-0 draws - Kai Havertz had goals chalked off.

VAR also ruled in favour of the Reds during the Merseyside derby when Conor Coady's second half goal was disallowed during the stalemate.

The former Liverpool youngster was narrowly offside in what would have been Everton's first derby victory in front of fans since 2010.

Along with Brentford, Fulham, Liverpool and Forest, Aston Villa, Bournemouth and Newcastle ended with positive VAR net scores.

Again, this is perhaps ironic given Cherries boss Gary O'Neil recently proclaimed it was a 'miracle' they got 39 points 'with the level of officiating against us'.

Overall, this means 10 teams had more VAR decisions go against them, but it didn't stop Pep Guardiola's side winning a stunning fifth title in six seasons. 



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-12144961/Brentford-Fulham-Liverpool-benefitted-VAR-calls-club-season.html

[WhiteJC]

Fulham 2022/23 Season Review: Odds defied on Cottagers' record-breaking Premier League return
Despite losing to Manchester United on the final day of the season, it has been an incredible return to the Premier League for Fulham.

The Cottagers not only defied the pre-season relegation odds but did so with ease, finishing tenth in the table on 52 points – just one shy of their best-ever tally under Roy Hodgson in 2008/09.

The impressive opening day 2-2 draw at home to Liverpool set the tone for what was to come as the side went on to score their highest number of goals in a top-flight campaign since 1967/68.

Marco Silva's side have exceeded expectations across many metrics this season but for the fans, perhaps the sweetest takeaway from the last ten months will be finishing above West London rivals Chelsea for the first time in 40 years.

Fulham finished a comfortable eight points ahead of 12th-placed Chelsea as well as taking four points from the 2021 European Champions which included a raucous 2-1 victory at Craven Cottage in January.

Another big achievement was a league double over Brighton, particularly the second game at the Amex Stadium where a largely frustrating Fulham had just 34% possession but still managed to score the only goal of the game in the 88th minute.

Silva and his men also assumed the role of managerial executioners in October when a thumping 3-0 win against Steven Gerrard's Aston Villa saw him sacked a mere 90 minutes after the final whistle.

And three days later, a 3-2 win at Elland Road piled the pressure on then-Leeds manager Jesse Marsch who struggled on for a time, before being eventually replaced by Javi Gracia who could not stop Fulham either, his side succumbing to a 35-yard rocket from Joao Palhinha at Craven Cottage.

The Portuguese midfielder is likely a shoo-in for Fulham's Player of the Year award and has certainly been one of the signings of the season; his long-range shooting ability first revealed itself in a boisterous away win at Nottingham Forest in September, the third team to be conquered by Fulham in both home and away encounters.

Elsewhere, Aleksandar Mitrovic has had another season to remember – proving he can do it in the big time with 14 league goals despite an eight-game ban and injury troubles.

The mercurial striker of course has had his problems – the incident at Old Trafford with referee Chris Kavanagh during the side's FA Cup Quarter-Final against Manchester United as well as now holding the unfortunate record of being the only Premier League player to miss four penalties in a single season.

But his aggression and tenacity have been essential to the way Fulham have played with Silva admitting his absence following the 'completely exaggerated' suspension being a big blow.

More honourable mentions include Tim Ream, another player to prove his doubters wrong with some imperious performances at the back, flying right-back Kenny Tete, 34-year-old evergreen Willian and Andreas Pereira, who was one of Fulham's most important creators with five goals and six assists.

There can be little doubt this has been the most successful year of Shahid Khan's 10-year reign at the club, doubling the points tally of the dreaded £100m campaign of 2018/19 and heading into next season with a glittering new Riverside Stand and ironclad confidence that Silva is the right man to take the club forward.

Transfer rumours are already flying around and Palhinha's name will be on the lips of more than one club this summer, along with the much-improved Antonee Robinson and of course Mitrovic, who has been watched by Europe's elite for some time now.

While Silva has made it clear securing Willian's services for next year is a priority and Manor Solomon's Fulham future remains uncertain after his impressive loan spell, there will undoubtedly be other gaps to fill over the course of the next few months.

London's Original scarves were held aloft at Craven Cottage during the final home game of the season against Crystal Palace as fans showed their appreciation for a year of brilliant football on the banks of the Thames.

After that game, the Portuguese manager concluded his press conference by saying: "I know our group of players very well and I know this football club – the room is big to improve through togetherness, friendship, work rate and quality.

"It's up to me to keep demanding from them and to make the right decisions for this club going forward."

After two hugely successful seasons, it's hard not to feel that the Fulham boss is onto something good at Craven Cottage.

However, with some season tickets due to go up by 18% next year and seats in the Riverside Stand potentially costing as much as £3,000, it's an ownership gamble that, if the side fail to deliver, could see patience wear very thin moving forward.



https://londonfootballscene.co.uk/2023/05/31/fulham-2022-23-season-review-odds-defied-on-cottagers-record-breaking-premier-league-return/

[WhiteJC]

Arsenal urged to sign €60m Man Utd 'favourite' and 'powerful' 14-goal Premier League striker

Ex-Arsenal defender Johan Djourou thinks his former club should sign Aleksandar Mitrovic from Premier League rivals Fulham this summer.

The Gunners are expected to strengthen in various positions this summer ahead of their return to the Champions League.

Mitrovic is not being linked with a move to the Emirates, but he has at least enjoyed a brilliant season with Fulham.

The Serbia international missed eight games as a result of his ban but he managed to score 14 goals in his 24 Premier League outings for the Cottagers.

Djourou thinks Arsenal would benefit from having a "striker with more power like Erling Haaland or Mitrovic".

"While Saka has extended, all these players (Saka, Jesus, Martinelli) are too similar for me," Djourou told MyBettingSites.com.

"Arsenal need another striker with more power like an Erling Haaland or an Aleksandar Mitrovic.

"So a player who is strong in the air and can hold the ball well, as well as being important as a striker with his back to the opponent's goal.

"When a game gets tight and the opposing block controls all of Arsenal's attacking attempts, they often can't find a solution. Accordingly, such a physically strong player would be important for them to become a bit more unpredictable."

Unlike Mitrovic, Bayer Leverkusen's Moussa Diaby – who is valued at €60m – has been mentioned as a potential Arsenal target.

Man Utd also admire the forward and he is said to be Erik ten Hag's 'favourite' option to replace Anthony Martial.

Djourou "would welcome" Diaby's arrival at Arsenal as they need "more quality and experience".

"For me, competition is the be-all and end-all, so I would welcome a new arrival in that position (when asked about Arsenal's interest in Moussa Diaby)," Djourou said.

"Just look at Manchester City: At the moment, top players like Phil Foden or Ryad Mahrez are always on the bench, while Jack Grealish is an integral part of the starting eleven because he performs really well.

"A well-balanced squad is eminently important to strengthen the cohesion and to make sure that every player questions himself again and again. Arsenal need a bit more quality and experience so that nobody feels too comfortable."

On Granit Xhaka leaving, he added: "Throughout the season Granit was really strong. He was consistent, he was often involved in the decisive moments.

"I don't know if the Arsenal officials have already found his successor, but because of his great experience, positional play and mentality, his departure will certainly hurt [them].

"He has established himself at Arsenal with a lot of professionalism. I really liked him as a player."



https://www.football365.com/news/arsenal-urged-sign-e60m-man-utd-favourite-powerful-14-goal-premier-league-striker

[Stevieboy]

Marco Silva's post-match chat with Fred
A Manchester United fan has craftily captured Marco Silva's post-match natter with Fred in the Old Trafford car park.

The footage shows the Fulham head coach letting all of the opposition players go by before he began a lengthy conversation with the Brazilian midfielder. The 30 year-old only has a year left on his contract at United and has been named as one of the players likely to be moved on by Eric ten Haag. Surely, Silva couldn't be sounding him out about joining his compatriots Andreas Pereira and Willian at Craven Cottage ...



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2023/05/marco-silvas-post-match-chat-with-fred/

He's saying to Fred "Can you have a word with that Rashford bloke about coming to us as back up to Mitro?"